CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The rate at which unemployed computer education graduates in Edo State roam the street without job has began to draw the attention of everybody. One would begin to wonder as to the causes of these ugly trends or further still the influence it has on the economy of Edo State. In the course of this research, it is important to know the meaning of the concept of ‘unemployment’ in order to do justice to the causes and effects of unemployment on computer education graduates. Unemployment is a condition or situation whereby persons capable and willing to work are unable to get paid employment. In any economy, there are many people perhaps even most of the population who do not have paid jobs because they are nursing babies or looking after their families. Unemployment refers to those who are involuntary without work, those who want jobs but cannot find them.

  It is never possible to have 100% employment in any economy, hence the following types of unemployment may be found. Frictional unemployment: This consists of workers in the process of moving from one job to another, who show up in the unemployment figure at any particular time. Structural unemployment: These are physically, mentally and intellectually healthy people who cannot find them. It is this structural unemployment that the researcher of this thesis is concerned about. Unemployables: These are people with physical or mental handicap, which means that although they would like to work, there is no work, which they are able to do. Normal or transitional unemployment: This occurs when people change their jobs, that is, people merely desire to change or move to a different part of the country for better jobs prospect. Cyclical unemployment: This term refers to the alternate booms and slumps in the level of industry activity. Visible unemployment: This is the existence of a large number of people who do not have work and who are dearly looking for work. Invisible unemployment: This on the other hand is a situation whereby people are not looking but they are not looking for work because they feel that there are no employment opportunities for them.

The problems of unemployment date back to the 1930s, even before the great world economic depression. In Nigeria, specifically, Edo State by the year 1960, school leavers secured jobs with relative ease, skilled labour was scared and difficult to come by and it was the employers who looked for them instead of the other way round as it is now. However, it must be emphasized that this research is concerned with the unemployables frictional unemployment. But what this author is researching into the effect and pattern of visible supply deficiency and structurally unemployed computer education graduates in Edo State.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The magnitude of the effect of unemployment is difficult to determine because Edo State is plaque with insufficient statistical data and records.

The problems of unemployment on computer education graduates are growing at an alarming rate because of the high population passing out of our college and universities on a yearly basis. Computer education graduates come out from the college of education without hope of getting employed in the state. This has led to the study of the causes and effect and possible solution to computer education graduates unemployment problems in Benin City particularly and Nigeria in general.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are to;

1.           Examine the cause and nature of unemployment among computer education graduates

2.           Examine the effects of unemployment on computer education graduates in Benin City

3.           Recommend possible solutions to the identified problems of unemployment among this group of graduates, which can aid in reducing the effects. 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.             What are the major factors responsible for unemployment?

ii.            What are the problems encountered as a result of being unemployed?

iii.          Does unemployment lead to health problems?

iv.          What are the effects of unemployment to the family?

v.           What is the statistic of the unemployed on Ovia North East Local Government Area?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

This research was will be useful to the federal government, local government, tertiary institutions, students and general public.

Since the causes and effect of unemployment has been identified and enumerated, it is hoped that the state government will undoubtedly tackle it and accelerate economic development in the state.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this project work embraces the whole nation but for the purpose of being specific, this study also focuses on the causes and effect of unemployment on computer education graduates only.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

In the course of this study, some terms used in the process are defined as follows;

Unemployment is a condition or situation whereby persons capable and willing to work are unable to get paid employment.

Frictional unemployment: This is the process of moving from one job to another by workers.

Structural unemployment: These are physically, mentally and intellectually healthy people who cannot find them. It is this structural unemployment that the researcher of this thesis is concerned about.

Visible unemployment: This refers to the association of a large number of people who do not have work and who are dearly looking for job.

Unemployables: This is as of physical or mental handicap, which means that although they would like to work, there is no work, which they are able to work.

Normal or transitional unemployment: This occur when people change their jobs, that is, people merely desire to change or move to a different part of the country for better jobs prospect.

Cyclical unemployment: This terms refers to the alternate booms and slumps in the level of industrial activity.