Impact of Unemployment on Human Services

Impact of Unemployment on Human Services

Topic: The Unemployed in the Society
(Presented by)
(Presented to)
Institution
DateAbstract
Unemployment is a very important performance indicator of the economy in the United States. It defines the government’s policies and other decisions that are of national importance. In a labor sensitive economy like the United States, unemployment has been used as a campaign agenda by politicians seeking offices. This term paper sought to establish the consequences of unemployment on jobless people as the target group. It also sought to investigate patterns of unemployment rate in the United States in the recent years. In addition, it examined how unemployment insurance in the United States is organized and its role in compensating the unemployed. The term paper also sought to examine the impact of unemployment on the human services in the United States.
The target group was the unemployed in the society and was identified from a list of groups that were considered needy. The impact of unemployment on the target group was then analyzed with respect to consequences of job losses, employment rates and unemployment insurance. The study found that unemployment had far reaching implications on provision of human services and could be linked to increased crime rates, domestic violence, children with special needs and increased substance abuse.

Introduction
Unemployment is a key indicator of the economic health of a country. It is a dominant factor when determining the strength of an economy. An economy that is fully efficient is more likely to employ everyone at some stage in an ideal situation (Burger, 2009). However, in a practical situation a country’s economy will almost never achieve peak efficiency. As a result, unemployment will always exist. However this is not to say that unemployment cannot be managed. Unemployment drains a country’s resources due to decreased productivity. Therefore, it is a powerful parameter that determines the government’s policy and personal decisions. Naturally, the government closely monitors unemployment whose impact can be felt all over the sectors of the economy. In the health sector for instance, unemployment has led to an increase in the number people seeking medical services for stress related ailments and those joining rehabilitation centers. Unemployment has also led to decreased revenue for the government because it reduces the number of people in the tax bracket. Unemployment is not only useful when showing the level of efficiency at which an economy is operating at but also as a campaign agenda for politicians. Usually, high unemployment rates correlates with loss of elections. According to the Federal Reserve, unemployment rate below a given threshold known as the natural rate of unemployment results to inflation.
Consequences of Joblessness
Unemployment can be defined as a situation where the persons who are able to work and willing to work are unable to secure work or an income-generating activity or a means of livelihood. Unemployment is usually characterized by high numbers of jobless people as a result of either being laid off or being unable to secure work at first attempt. The consequences of joblessness and job losses are many. This paper will discuss several of these consequences. , most of which are very rampant in the US.
Job loss leads to decreased financial independence and security .There is also absence of control over one’s life because one feels he is not empowered to do so financially. This could cause fear of having to depend on friends, relatives and well-wishers. According to (Braginsky and Braginsky, 1975) a jobless person is likely to develop severe psychological stress because of the pressure exerted on him. For example, a jobless man with a family will be required to fulfill his duties of providing for the family whether he is employed or not. This might not be possible and more often than not he is likely to feel guilty about his inability to provide for his family. As a result, he might develop stress related illnesses such as cardiac cancer or high blood pressure.
Joblessness also lowers self-esteem of an individual. The affected person will normally develop a feeling that they are insignificant and of decreased value to relatives. They stop ‘hanging out’ with their former colleagues who are employed because they don’t view themselves as belonging to that class anymore. In addition, people who used to depend on them when they were employed no longer do and consider them of decreased in value. This only worsens the situation in making them feel unwanted and ‘used’
Also, jobless people are likely to develop deep cynicism towards established institutions. This is because they believe the institutions are part of the reason they are unemployed by not offering them jobs. Probably their previous applications for employment in these institutions have been unsuccessful and they feel rejected. Moreover, they feel hard done by the government and other related institution’s failure to provide them with jobs or at least to put measures to stimulate employment.
Besides, joblessness leads to greater risk behavior like substance abuse or poor diet. This is largely due to hopelessness and low self esteem among the victims. Consequently, the victims develop severe depression and risk their lives by engaging in substance abuse. This is because the behavior gives them a ‘feel good’ effect. This feeling is only temporary and reality strikes back when the effects are over. It is this realization that makes them go back to the drugs and later develops into an addiction. As a result, the victims are caught in a deadly cycle of substance abuse which may even cause deaths.
Unemployment Rates in the US
The US Bureau of labor statistics is responsible for reporting the official rates of unemployment in the labor force of the United States of America. The bureau defines labor force as persons of sixteen years of age and above who worked at least one hour for pay during survey week, or those who did not have a job and were as a result actively seeking one. Official unemployment rate in the US over recent years has ranged from 7.1% in 1991 when there was recession to 5.5% in 1995 when there was recovery. In 2000 the unemployment rate was as low as 4 % before going back to 5.7% 2001 (Hershey 1995).
The unemployment rate among whites is lower compared to that of African-Americans while that of Latinos falls in between the two groups. According to (Julian & Kornlum, 1986) a disproportionate number of minorities is involved in the ‘underground’ economy which is defined as the exchange of goods and services, both legal and illegal that are not regulated or taxed by the government.
Unemployment Insurance and Other Assistance Programs In the US
The US unemployment insurance is a sort of compensation system that helps people who have been sacked from their jobs or are currently unemployed. Various insurance programs in the US have varying rul...