1.

INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the background of study,statement of research problem, research questions, aims and objectives of the study, significance of the study and scope of the study.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY Unemployment has over the years, continued to pose challenges to both developed and developing nations. According to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (6th edition) defined a graduate as someone who has a university degree or completed their school studies while unemployment as the state of not having a job. The International Labour Organization (ILO) in http://www.ilo.org describes unemployment as an enforced idleness of wage earners who are able and willing to work but cannot find jobs. Giddens (2006) said the experience of unemployment can be disturbing to those accustomed to those having secured jobs. Obviously the immediate consequence is a loss of income. The effects of this vary between countries because of contracts in the level of employment benefits. Olu

Akanmu (2011) said Nigeria has a serious challenge . Many graduates of its higher institutions cannot find work. The perception of job seekers on the issue of graduate unemployment in a study conducted by Fajana (2000) the following factors were identified as the major causes of unemployment in Nigeria: the long period of initial unemployment among university graduates in Nigeria, faulty manpower planning and expansion of educational facilities that have unduly raised the expectation of Nigerian youths , the economic recession ,continued proportionality of expatriates in employment, graduate attitude to some type of jobs, attitude to jobs in other location as well as search behaviour of employers and job seekers,use of capital intensive technology among others. According the ILO (ILO publication, 2007), the increase in the number of youths in tertiary education is a positive development, however, labour markets in many countries are presently unable to accommodate the expanding pool of the skilled young graduates. Due to decline in jobs and the rise in the number of those unemployed young people are forced in the informal sector. Factors which readily come to mind when analyzing the worsened unemployment crises

in Nigeria are usually traced to the long period of instability in the socio-economic and political dimensions that led to the problems imposed on the economy, the nation and the workers.

According to Olu Akanmu (2011) employers want their graduate recruits to be competent technically in their chosen field. He said the issues in putting Nigerians graduate to work is to increase the employment generation capacity of the economy , create jobs that will absorb thousands of graduates and to address how higher education institutions will produce graduates that are employable for the jobs created. Andrew Dabalen,Bankole Oni and Olatunde Adekola (2000) said employers are complain that graduates are poorly prepared for work. The believe that academic standard have fallen considerably over the past decade and that university degree is no longer a guarantee to communication skills or technical competence.

Nworah (2011) said over the years ,the nations unemployment problems have risen. Many analyst have in fact contended the vast number of unemployed in the country provides a ready market for criminals and ever increasing security challenges the nation is confronted with crimes like armed robbery,theft, kidnapping among others.

The consequences of these actions breed high rate of violent crimes, reduce standard of living , graduate restiveness and other psycho-social problems. According to the National Employment Policy (2000), unemployment has become so serious that it is now regarded as a major security and developmental challenge for economic welfare, socio-political stability and human dignity. 1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM The research is concerned with finding out the nature, causes and effects of graduate unemployment in Jos metropolis on the economy of the people and the state. The coping

strategies of unemployment and unemployment issues,the challenges of combating unemployment in the governance of today. The research seeks to investigate the problems and counselling needs of unemployed graduates. To find out whether there is a supply of skilled graduates for unemployment in the economy. To find out if there are effective government policies to empower the unemployed graduates. To find out the fallen standards of education that makes graduates unemployed.

1.3

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What are the causes of graduate unemployment? 2. What are the sociological implications of graduate

unemployment? 3. What are the coping strategies of graduate unemployment?

4. How effective are government policies and programmes put in place to reduce graduate unemployment or what can be

done to further empower the graduates? 1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1. To suggest strategies to reduce graduate unemployment in order to enhance national security and development. 2. To identify the causes of unemployment. 3. To examine implications of graduate unemploymemt. 4. To provide useful suggestions to curb graduate unemployment. 5. To identify the coping strategies of graduate

unemployment.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study is expected to stimulate the minds of policy makers at all levels of government to formulate workable and enduring policies that will curb graduate employment in Jos

metropolis. It is also expected to bring to the attention the leaders in Nigeria the danger and threat posed by graduate

unemployment to national security. The findings of this study will be an additional material on graduate unemployment in Jos metropolis. It will also help in suggesting ways to enhance national security and development. It will examine the causes of graduate unemployment. The research will also state how unemployed graduates cope and the implications it has on the economy. 1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study will be limited to Jos metropolis in Plateau State. The research will centre on unemployed graduates and it will focus on the nature, causes and effects of unemployed graduates of the area.

REFERENCES

Akanmu O, (2011) Graduate Employment and Employability Challenges in Nigeria. A Paper Presented at the Association of Common Wealth Universities, Accra. Giddens , A. (2006) Sociology 5th Edition(2006) sociology polity press Cambridge, uk . Fagana ,S. (2000) Functioning of Nigeria Labour Market. Labofin and Company, Lagos, Nigeria.

Andrew Dabalen, et al. (2000) Labour Market Prospects of University Graduates in Nigeria. FGN , ( 2004) National employment policy, Abuja.

ILO Publication (2007) Youth in Crisis, coming of age in 21st century Nworah. FRCN daily commentary, Febuaury 3, 2011 Advanced Oxford Learners Dictionary 6th Edition (2001) (ed) Wehmeir S.et al.Oxford University Press,London. http://www.ilo.org