ABSTRACT
This paper explores how unemployed
graduates cope through various strategies.
Unemployment in Nigeria, particularly
in the form of graduate unemployment, has become pronounced in the last two
decades due primarily to upsurge in the output from tertiary education and
inelastic labour absorptive capacity of the Nigerian labour market for the
services of university and polytechnic graduates. The study employed both
primary and secondary sources of data collection such: as survey design,
interviews and journal reviews. This research recommends that youth should
engage in profitable activities such acquiring soft skills and expertise while
still searching for jobs rather than sitting idle home.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Pages
Front Page i
Title page ii
Certification iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgment v
Table of contents vi
Abstract ix
CHAPTER
ONE: BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 4
1.3 Research
Question 5
1.4 Objectives
of Study 5
1.5 Significance
of Study 5
1.6 Scope
and Limitation of Study 6
1.7 Definition
of Terms 7
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL ORIENTATION
2.1 Introduction 8
2.2 Literature Review 9
2.3 Theoretical Orientation 16
2.4 Causes of Unemployment 20
2.5 Hypotheses 26
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction 27
3.2 The Study Population 27
3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures 27
3.4 Research Instruments and Method
Investigation 27
3.5 Method of Data Analysis 28
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND PRESENTATION
4.1 Introduction 29
4.2 Respondents Characteristics and
Classification 29
4.3 Presentation and Analysis of Data
According to
Research Questions
33
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary of Findings 43
5.2 Conclusion 43
5.3 Recommendations 44
References 46
Appendix 47
CHAPTER
ONE
BACKGROUND
OF THE STUDY
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Unemployment among graduates in Nigeria
is one of the most critical problems the country is facing. Nigeria is a
country passing through multiple transitions, form the period of colonialism to
independence, from illiteracy to literacy, subsistence agriculture to monetary
economy, rural life to urban cosmopolitan life, form the day of employment to
the days of mass unemployment. Year after year in Nigeria, the increasing
number of graduates joining the labour market keeps rising geometrically and
any hope for them to secure jobs looks pessimistic. The tempo of economic
development does not keep pace with the rate of educational advancement. That a
developing country should suffer from surplus labour is hardly surprising, but
generally, unemployment is one thing and graduate unemployment is another.
Unemployment has in all their ramifications come to stay with us since the era
of oil boom.
According to Daily Star, June 30 1986,
unemployment is described as a situation where there are few jobs to go round
the great number of people willing to work". Here, it could be both
educated and uneducated people in the country. Graduates unemployment has become
some of the basic economic social and political problems facing so many states
in Nigeria recently. The graduates in this context are' generally the school
leavers from our post primary and higher schools of learning. This pitiable "labour
forces" that are left redundant are ever ready to put in their best
services in any kind of jobs, but would not
be called upon to do so because of the situation in the country.
In Lagos
metropolis, there has been a persistent increase in the number of unemployed
graduates of institutions of higher learning. It is a problem that has
consistently forced itself on the minds of different people in different ages.
It is time we redressed our mind sincerely to the issue of graduate
unemployment. The past government officials in the state had failed to give an
accurate employment figure of the labour force available. and this has
perpetuated to pose some dangerous threats to the socioeconomic stability of
the state than usual.
On this note,
therefore, it becomes imperative to give a brief definition of unemployment.
According to Wikipedia, Unemployment (or joblessness) occurs when people are
without work and actively seeking work. The unemployment rate is a measure of
the prevalence of unemployment and it is calculated as a percentage by dividing
the number of unemployed individuals by all individuals currently in the labor
force(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment).
Also, according to
Nigeria Statesman May 28, 1986, "Unemployment connotes the scarcity of job
both in public and private sectors. This may be traceable to mismanagement of
productive resources, immobility of labour between jobs, economic crisis like
oil doom etc. especially in our predominately capitalist economy.
Unlike in the past, graduates of
schools of higher learning now roam the streets and motor parks in search of
non-existing job opportunities and this has created immeasurable number of
social and economic problems in the status quo of the society. This problem
therefore, is of staggering magnitude because idleness influences all our
actions and designs. It corrupts the graduates and is the bane of the middle
ages. This research is also intended to find out the root causes of the
increasing number of unemployed graduates and the strategies designed by
graduates to cope with it.
It is of paramount importance to stress
that no other economic problem needed more immediate attention than finding job
for the growing number of unemployed graduates. In the light of these problems,
the former Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces General
Sani Abacha in his 1st October, 1995 broadcast lifted the ban on
employment. There is no doubt that the country has witnessed an upsurge in
crime such as drug addiction and sophisticated armed robberies while broken
homes, malnutrition and many other social vices are on the increase too.
Other factors that contributed to this
situation also remain an integral part of this
research. Such factors include the
expansion of the existing schools and establishment of new schools without a collateral
increase in industries to absorb produced graduates, the behaviour of graduate
'themselves towards jobs like farming construction of roads, bridges, school
taxi cars and also the over-dependence of a mono-export-oriented economy etc.
the efforts of the previous government in areas of infusion of skill orientation
in educational scheme will be scrutinized in order to have a balanced an analysis.
Did the government evolves stringent measures aimed at eradicating problem of
unemployment in the state or did they apply the myopic machineries which
appealed to policy makers because of case or execution?
The answer to this question with
relevance to the historical background of Akala area of Mushin, Lagos requires
meticulous evaluation in order to find a lasting solution. The researcher will
therefore, use questionnaire and review of past work in the same direction.
Most regrettably, however, there is scarcity of domestic data relating to the
number of unemployed graduate of school of higher learning.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The unabated increase in the rate of
unemployment among the youth and how they cope with it, with particular
emphasis on higher institution graduate has been a source of concern to the
entire nation. More so, being aware of the social vices that this situation
could result in makes it more disabusing. This situation is a dilemma when we
consider many policies, and legislation so far put in place by the government
to cub this mince and how ineffective they have been as an instrument to reduce
unemployment. The researcher, having considered the above and decided to study
the under listed problems with the view to pinpoint the cause, coping
strategies and possibly proffering lasting solutions to them.
1. The increase in the rate of unemployment
amongst higher institution graduate and how they are coping with it.
2. Understanding the capacity of the
university graduate we have today including those who have studied in very
essential field which before now was not so. Nevertheless they suffer unemployment.
3. The increase in the scope of private
sector participation which should result in the increase in employment of
university graduate has not been true in our situation.
4. The federal government recently
increased the capital base of the bank of industry so as to allow more graduate
to participate in the federal government graduate loan scheme, with the aim of
being self-employed, but this has not yielded any meaningful result or reduced
the unemployment toll.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How
does it feel to be an unemployed graduate?
2. Are
there unemployed graduates?
3. Are there enough jobs to absorb graduates
or there are graduates that are lazy in getting available jobs?
4. What
kind of skills makes a graduate employable?
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The general objectives of this study is
to determine the coping strategies among unemployed youths in Akala, Mushin
Local government area.
The specific objectives include;
1. Understanding
the socio-economic implications of unemployment.
2. Identifying
the coping mechanisms among unemployed graduate.
3. To recommend and suggest measures at
reducing unemployment in Lagos State in Nigeria.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Owing to the down turn in the economic
fortunes of this country over the years, the Nigerian graduates have lost their
pride of place. Their status in the society has continued to dwindle. Today, it
is sheer mirage for fresh graduates to dream of the good things of life. They
are made to understand and accept that to graduates, unemployment should be
seen as a passing phase in the history of the nation. It is very doubtful if
the much desired change in the near future will bring us anything.
Therefore, this study is aimed at
showing the coping strategies among unemployed graduates. It is desirable to
create a new forum in which the government plays a dominant role and actively
promotes private enterprises, establishes new enterprises with a centrally
directed mobilization of resources towards the definite objectives of solving
the graduate problem. The solution to this national malaise lies in turnaround
or direction on the economy.
1.6 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The study on the problem of graduate
unemployment and the coping strategies among graduates is such that would have
taken me to different parts of the country. However, as a result of financial
problems and more importantly the time factor i will be limiting this study to
Akala community area of Mushin local government, area of Lagos state.
Due to the nature of topic, the
researcher limits the respondents to unemployed
graduates in the selected area.
It is not uncommon that during the
process of this research work, some difficulties were overcome. These
difficulties are:
1) The time given for this research was not
enough. The study is supposed to last for at least six months to enable a
thorough study on the topic.
2) Scarcity of materials also posed a
constraint to the researcher since no text has been written purely on the
topic. Most libraries where such helping materials were found refused to allow
the researcher make use of them.
3) Financial constraint contributes in no
small measure in impending the length and width of research. Cost of materials,
transport fare and scarcity of fuel were among the limitations of the study.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
UNEMPLOYMENT: This means involuntary idleness. A person
is described as unemployed when, despite his ability and willingness to work is
jobless.
INTENTIONALLY: Done on purpose
GRADUATE: One who finished a course of study at
a university or polytechnics.
DEFICIENCY: Not perfect, lacking something
RESPONDENTS: People giving answers to questions.
PERSISTENT: Continues steadily in a course of
action inspite of difficulty.
I: Important
UI: Unimportant
F: Represent the sum of suggestions
(frequency).
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