How Does Unemployment Affect India’s Economy and Your Future?
The three basic needs of human beings are - food, home and clothing. All these needs can be properly fulfilled only if a person has money. And to earn this money, the person must be employed, that is, he or she must have a paid occupation. However, there are many people in the world and our country too who have failed to secure a job. As a result, they have an insignificant source of income. This state of joblessness is called unemployment.
Why Unemployment is a Serious Issue?
To live a dignified life, people need to earn money and fulfil their basic needs. Unemployment snatches this right from them and their standard of life gets degraded.
The lack of money due to unemployment leads to the lack of nutritious food. The health of the unemployed is bound to deteriorate. The children of unemployed people cannot get the proper diet. Hence, they suffer from various illnesses. Their quality of life reduces drastically over time.
An unemployed parent cannot give proper education to his child. As a result, the child too will not be able to get a good job once he grows up. Thus, unemployment breeds unemployment.
Unemployment and Social Instability
An unemployed person is open to doing socially unacceptable work to get money. Thus, very often in a society where there are a huge number of unemployed people, there will be a great proliferation of thieves, snatchers, bank-robbers and much more serious anti-social elements.
Covid-19 & Unemployment in India and the World
In March 2020, India entered into lockdown to stop the spread of Coronavirus. While the lockdown was effective, hundreds of people got jobless because of the prolonged shutdown of the offices. The unemployment rate has climbed up to 27.1% in April. Sure, once the offices are opened, this rate will come down. However, this grim scenario will haunt us for at least one year.
The situation in other countries is the same. 30 million people in the US have filed unemployment claims. The unemployment rate, there, is 14.7%. In the UK the number of unemployment claims has shot up by 70%.
How Can We Come Out of The Muck?
1. Self-Dependence
As the Prime Minister of India proclaimed, the Indians need to be self-dependent. We need more vocational training. Gone are the days when being employed meant being an engineer or a doctor. A farmer is an employed person. He produces his food and that of the others. There is no shame in being a farmer. We have to stop depending on foreign countries for IT work - Let us open more startups. Why do we depend on China for Diwali firecrackers or Holi colors - We can make them ourselves. Self-help is the best help.
2. Shifting The Manufacturing To India
To create more jobs, India needs to make more manufacturing hubs in the country. Let us not just assemble the Smartphone parts, let us scour the mineral-rich country and take out silicon to make circuit boards.
3. Educating The Women
There is a real connection between the lack of education and unemployment. To educate the children of the country, we first need to educate the women of the country. Only then can the children be educated properly.
4. Stopping Politics Based On Religion And Region
Stopping petty politics is the need of the hour. The politicians need to work in a concerted way to make Indians employed.
As Charlie Chaplin said, there is no glory in poverty. Let us not pride ourselves on being compromising. Let us remain hungry for a better life. Let’s get employed.
FAQs on Unemployment Essay: Causes, Effects, and Practical Solutions in India
1. What is the basic definition of unemployment?
Unemployment refers to a situation where a person who is actively searching for a job is unable to find one. This state of joblessness means they lack a regular source of income to fulfil basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing, which can significantly impact their quality of life.
2. What are the main causes of unemployment in India?
Several factors contribute to unemployment in India. The primary causes include:
- Rapid Population Growth: An increase in population without a proportional rise in job opportunities.
- Technological Advancement: Automation and new technologies replacing manual labour, especially for unskilled workers.
- Lack of Required Skills: A mismatch between the skills possessed by the workforce and the skills demanded by industries.
- Slow Industrial Growth: Insufficient development of manufacturing hubs and industries to absorb the growing workforce.
3. What are the different types of unemployment?
Unemployment is broadly categorised into several types based on its cause:
- Frictional Unemployment: Temporary unemployment when individuals are in the process of moving from one job to another.
- Structural Unemployment: A long-term issue caused by a mismatch between the skills of the workforce and the requirements of available jobs.
- Cyclical Unemployment: Occurs during economic downturns when there is a low overall demand for goods and services, leading to layoffs.
- Voluntary Unemployment: When a person chooses not to accept a job at the going wage rate.
4. How does unemployment impact an individual and society?
Unemployment has severe consequences for both individuals and society. For an individual, it leads to financial hardship, loss of self-esteem, and health issues due to the inability to afford nutritious food and healthcare. For society, high unemployment can result in a rise in crime rates, social unrest, and a slower rate of economic growth as a significant portion of the workforce remains unproductive.
5. Why is long-term unemployment considered more dangerous than short-term unemployment?
Long-term unemployment is considered more dangerous because its effects are more profound and lasting. While short-term unemployment is a temporary phase, long-term unemployment (lasting over 27 weeks) can lead to the erosion of skills, making it even harder to find a job. It also has severe psychological impacts, such as loss of self-respect and strained family relationships, and can cause a significant decrease in an individual's lifetime earning potential.
6. What are some key solutions to address the problem of unemployment in India?
Addressing unemployment in India requires a multi-pronged approach. Key solutions include:
- Promoting Vocational Training: Shifting focus to skill-based education to make the youth job-ready for various sectors.
- Encouraging Startups and Self-Employment: Fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem to create more job providers, not just job seekers.
- Boosting the Manufacturing Sector: Developing more manufacturing hubs in the country to create large-scale employment opportunities.
- Investing in Quality Education: Improving the education system to ensure the next generation is better equipped for the job market.
7. What is the relationship between education and unemployment?
There is a direct and crucial relationship between education and unemployment. A higher level of education and possession of market-relevant skills significantly increase a person's chances of securing employment. Conversely, a lack of proper education is a major cause of structural unemployment, where individuals cannot find jobs that match their qualifications. Therefore, investing in a modern and accessible education system is a fundamental strategy for reducing unemployment rates.
8. How can I structure an effective essay on the issue of unemployment in India?
To write an effective essay on unemployment in India, you should structure it logically. Start with an introduction that defines unemployment and states its significance in the Indian context. Follow this with body paragraphs discussing the main causes (e.g., population growth, technology), the widespread effects (social and economic), and potential solutions (e.g., skill development, government initiatives). Conclude by summarising the key points and offering a forward-looking perspective.
