Unemployment
Technological changes are responsible for a good deal
of unemployment. Mechanisation and automation are major jobkillers. Many
functions that were performed by machines. First unskilled workers were made
redundant, then even more qualified workers and white-collar
workers.
On the other hand job recruits with good knowledge of
electronics and mechanics, a rising technical competence and also a wide general
education are needed.
The market has also changed. Goods that sold well in
former times are not needed anymore. Firms that don’t adopt their
production programme must be closed down. During a recession people don’t
invest much money.
Lacking research and inadequate investment are also
reasons for poor economic growth. Antiquated industries must become more
efficient again. More research and new industries are necessary. Competition is
getting tougher and tougher. Countries, where the general standard of living and
the wages are lower, can produce quite cheaply and export their products to
industrialised countries – so they keep the prices down.
Qualified workers often can’t find a job in the
field they are qualified for – so they are on the dole. One reason is that
many students choose subjects without thinking of the job
openings.
More flexibility and a wide range of training schemes
are necessary to help them find a job in another line of business and to adopt
to the changing requirements of the labour market.
School leavers should be given better information about career –
possibilities, but it is difficult to foresee which jobs will be needed in the
future.
New jobs are created in the field of environment, social services and
so on.
Retraining programmes are offered to those who
can’t be employed in their old jobs; there they learn new skills that may
help them.
Further solutions have been suggested: job sharing, a
general reduction of working hours, retirement at an early age, a reduction of
overtime, capacity oriented working hours and so on.
Most industrialised countries have a well developed
welfare System. People who are out of work receive unemployment benefit but only
for a limited period of time, then they may have to live below poverty
level.
Psychological problems: in our society, where money
means success, the unemployment feels useless and he will consider himself a
failure. He loses his self-confidence and becomes depressed, which may lead to
alcoholism, drug problems, radicalism...
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