Acknowledgement

It has been said that doing a research takes more than one persons. Therefore I would like to
express my appreciation to the following persons who have been very helpful in providing me
with support in the form of encouragement. Time and availability: the respondents from the
Long road community, my encouraging family members and my friends. I am also grateful to
Mrs. Gould who availed herself to give me guidance throughout this project.

Finally, I must be grateful to God who was always there with me while doing the research.
There were times when I felt like quitting but now there is a relief in the delivery of this project
entitled: What are the causes and effects on unemployment in my community? And I must say
thanks again.
Introduction
The community of Long Road is found in the parish of Portland. It is situated in the eastern part
of the island of Jamaica and is located about 48km. from the parish capital Port Antonio and
108km. from Kingston, the island’s capital.

The researcher has lived in Long Road for a while and has seen the yearly increase of
unemployment.

With deep concern a decision was made by the researcher to have this project done.
Statement of Problem
What are the causes and effects of unemployment in my community?
Aim
The aim is to find out:

1. The causes of unemployment in Long Road

2. If the unemployed persons are interested in gaining employment
3. The difficulties faced by those unemployed and their families
4. What can be done to get more people employed
Instrument used to collect data
Interview Schedule

A copy of an interview schedule for unemployed persons

1. How long have you been residing in Long Road?

2. How old are you?
3. What is your current level of Education?
4. Are you living alone or with your family?
5. Were you employed at anytime?
6. Why are you not employed at this time?
7. Are you interested in gaining employment?
8. What are some of the difficulties you have encountered not being employed?
9. What do you think you can do to become employed?
10. How are you supported?
11. What path are you currently pursuing in order to gain an employment?
12. What do you think the government can do to decrease the level of unemployment in
the community?
13. Do you think community members are doing enough to decrease the employment rate?
14. Do you think unemployment contributes to the level of crime in Long Road?
15. What are some of the things you think the members of the community can do to
minimize the unemployment level?
16. What is your prospective on the level of unemployment in this community?
Method of Investigation
The researcher chose to use interview as the investigating method for three main reasons

1. So as to get close and personal with persons being interviewed

2. To see their facial expression and body language would be like whether they would have
a carefree or concerned attitude with the unemployment problem
3. The researcher thinks some are unable to read, so a questionnaire would not be a good
idea

With this in mind the researcher decided to interview unemployed persons from this
community.
Procedure for Data Collection
Between November 12 and 28, 2008 twenty (20) persons from the district of Long Road were
being interviewed. The process involved twenty (20) persons who are unemployed.

In conducting these interviews the researcher encountered some problems. Arrangements

were made by the researcher to meet with unemployed persons for an interview at a certain
time and place. However, when the researcher arrived, some persons were not available. As a
result, the researcher had to reschedule other appointments.
Presentation and Explanation of data
Fig. 1: Years of Residency

10
9
8
7
6
number of persons 5
1-10 yrs.
4
11-20 yrs.
3
2
over 20 yrs.
1
0
1-10 yrs. 11-20 yrs. over 20
yrs.
Years of residency

Figure 1 isa bar graph showing the years of residency of the twenty (20) respondents from Long
Road. For the period of 1-10 years 25% lived in this community. Another 25% lived there
between 11-20 years and 50% lived here for over 20 years.
Figure 2. Pie chart showing reasons for unemployment

10%
15%

Jobs available but

wages low
jobs unavailable

not qualified

Slice 4

75%

Figure 2 is a pie chart showing reasons for unemployment. Figure 2 indicates that of the 20
respondents, 75% said there are not enough jobs available while 15% said they are not qualified
and 10% said the jobs available are not paying enough wages
Figure 3. showing government performance

14

12

10

0
very poor good excellent

Figure 3 is a line graph showing what the respondents say is the government’s performance
with the regards to the unemployment. 12 persons said the government performance is very
poor, 6 said the government performance is good while only 2 said the government’s
performance is excellent.
Figure 4 showing number of persons who are interested in gaining employment.

25%

intrested
not interested

75%

Figure 4 is a pie chart showing the number of persons who are interested in gaining
employment. The chart indicates that of the 20 respondents, 75% said that they are interested
in gaining employment and 25% said they were not interested in gaining employment.
Figure 5: Level of Education

14

12

10

number of 8
persons 6 primary
secondary
4 territiary
2

0
primary secondary territiary
level of education

Figure 5 is a bar graph showing the level of education of the twenty respondents from Long
Road. 2 persons attended primary school only while 4 persons attended tertiary and 14 persons
attended as far as secondary

Figure 6 showing the amount of unemployed persons in Long Road that was once employed
 10%

90%

once employed never employed

In figure 6 a pie chart indicates that of the 20 respondents 90% said that they were once
employed while 10% said they were not employed at no time.

Table 1: Difficulties faced due to unemployment situation

 Problems due to %
unemployment

Unemployed Children unable to go to 80%

school, bills cannot be paid on
time, sometimes none at all

Unemployed Get help from family, friends 20%

and assistance from
government

Table 1 highlights some of the difficulties that are faced by the respondents due to lack of
employment. 80% of the unemployed persons find it extremely difficult to maintain their family
and their bills. Another 20% get some assistance from families, friends and the government in
the form of food stamp payments.

Table 2: Things that can be done to help reduce unemployment.

 What can be done %

Job creation through improvement of 90%

factories, implementing skills training in
schools

Further education 10%

Table 2 shows that 90% of the respondents believe that job creation through improvement of
factories and implementing skill training I schools can decrease the level of unemployment
while 10% said that furthering their education would yield the same result.
Interpretation of data
The data collected indicates that a large percentage of the respondents in the survey are
affected by unemployment situation. The causes of unemployment in Long Road vary.
Some causes of unemployment in this community are the unavailability of jobs, lack of qualified
persons for the work force, unwillingness of some persons to work for the wages being offered.

These situations portray negatively on the wider community and affect the unemployed and
their families. Persons are having severe difficulties taking care of themselves and families.
Some children are unable to go to school; bills (utilities, medical and food) are unable to be
paid. Persons are abused physically and emotionally by unemployed persons. Persons have also
experienced theft due to high rise in unemployment.

In interpreting the data the respondents has seen that the government as mentioned by them
can do a whole lot more in decreasing the unemployment level by creating jobs, in which 75%
of the respondents said government can do more compared to 15% who said the government is
doing good while 105 said the government’s performance is excellent.

All of the respondents who lived in this community for over 20 years suggest that the
government can build some factories, and implement skills training centres as according to the
research 80% of the unemployed respondents have received secondary education but are still
unable to obtain a job.
Findings
The research has revealed that unemployment is caused mainly by the government not doing
enough to create more opportunities for persons leaving school as indicated by 15% of the
respondents.

It is also made known to the researcher that unemployed persons have experienced difficulties
in taking care of themselves and their families, and the unemployed person with nothing to
occupy their daily activities end up having a lot of children and is unable to provide for them
properly.

Another revelation is that 10% of the unemployed respondents said that some available jobs
are paying way below what is expected and these persons refused to accept these jobs.
Recommendations
It must be noted that we can build strong communications for the future. However in order for
this to happen, a lot of planning and unity among just about every member of the community
has to be taken into consideration.

One recommendation was that the government through the education system should
emphasize strongly on the training centres. This would guarantee the unemployed to become
self employed in whatever area they are interested in.

It was also recommended that creation of jobs be made by both government and private
investors in the tourism, agricultural and industrial sectors. In implementing these
recommendations the researcher would organize community based groups with every sector of
the community. Getting all the stakeholders in the community, employed and unemployed
persons alike to form committees along with the local government members of parliament
meeting on a monthly basis gathering all suggestions, documenting the information gathered
with a plan of action and having regular and continuous dialogue with the relevant authorities
so as to make sure that the needs of the community are met and the employment rate
increased.

In other instances the researcher would invite resource personal to come in the community to
speak to the youth from different youth groups so as to encourage young persons about
importance of a good education.