CAUSES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG THE EDUCATED YOUTH IN PAKISTAN

Mian Muhammad Ahmad Iqbal(1)

Shahid Qayyum Khaleek(2)

(1)(2) M.Phil Scholars, Department of Sociology, Government College University Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Unemployment is a lime lighted issue of Pakistan. It is the need of the day to root out the causes of unemployment. In this scenario we felt a need to conduct a study on the causes of unemployment among the educated youth in Pakistan. In the present study quantitative and qualitative (focus group discussion) researches are conducted to find out the main causes of unemployment in Pakistan. The respondents were including both males and females to discover the multiple reasons and gender biasness or segmentation in job market in the gender perspective. Statistical tool is applied for analysis of the quantitative data and focus group interviews are also concluded separately. At the end final conclusion is drawn by comparing both results.

Key words: unemployment, gender biasness, market segmentation

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1 INTRODUCTION

The Islamic republic of Pakistan had been established in 14 august 1947 having four provinces like Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Sarhad. Unemployment is one of the burning issues of Pakistan. An individual, who has ability and willing to do work, is not able to get job opportunity is called unemployed person. In the current scenario more than 30 lac individuals are unemployed in Pakistan (Malik et al., 2011).The rate of unemployment in Pakistan can be calculated by the collaboration of Labor Force Survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Statistics in 2011. According to this survey, the unemployment has been increased from 5.6% in 2009 to 6% in 2011. This increase has been measured for both males and females. Females are more unemployed (8.9%) as compared to males (5.1%) (LBF Survey, 2011). Population of Pakistan is increasing rapidly as zafar et al (2011) concluded that population growth is the real cause of unemployment in Pakistan and the Population growth in Pakistan is currently registered at an annual rate of 2.1% which is one of the highest in the world. On the other hand resources are declining day by day as Chaudry and Hamid (1998) concluded that less number of resources are the main reason of unemployment and Qayyum (2007) founded that a large number of educated young people are facing higher unemployment rate in Pakistan. Gender participation in labor market is also increasing in Pakistan. Due to the globalization and changing patterns of the society the women are also willing to participate in labor force to run their families, the Results of Naqvi and Lubna (2002) also indicates that women participation in economic activities increase with age in Pakistan and conclusions indicates that there is a higher evidence of unemployment among female youth in Pakistan.

In the current circumstances of Pakistan the tendency of both genders towards education is very high. Educated youth including males and females drop their c.v in different governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions but unfortunately seek negative response from the job market. Some jobs like receptionist etc are associates to the females only due to the attraction of the opposite sex but on the other side some jobs are appropriate only for the male segments that’s why there is a strong gender biasness and discrimination exist in job market as Jacqueline (2004) identified that gender discrimination always exists in the labor market. And this gender biasness leads to the unemployment among the educated segments. Pakistan have the strong feudal political system in this perspective the feudalists and political leaders have strong influence on social and governmental institutions according to this point of view the person who have strong reference (safaris) and approach to the feudalists or the political leaders can get job easily. Economic development also depends upon the availability of energy sources like khan et al (2007) proved the relationship between energy and economic growth. Lack of the energy sources means no economic development and this imbalance between the economic development and energy sources is also cause of unemployment in Pakistan as in the case of India, Ghosh (2009) have observed the nexus between electricity supply, employment and GDP.

2 METHODOLOGY

Two methods were used to collect the data.

Firstly quantitative method is used to collect the data. A hundred questionnaires were fulfilled by those students who have completed their sixteen years of education in the city Lahore Pakistan. Convince sampling technique is used for selection of the respondents. Hence 50 respondents were males and 50 were females and results were interpreted by applying Statistical formula of percentage.

P= f/n × 100 where P = percentage, f= frequency, n = total sample size and 100 is constant.

Secondly qualitative method is used to collect the data. Four focus group discussions were conducted two groups was containing males and two groups for females. Each group had eight respondents.

Data is interpreted by combining the qualitative and quantitative results.

3 RESULTA AND DISCUSSION

3.1 Extent of problems to faced

32% of boys answered that they are facing problems to some extent and 68% of boys answered that they are having much problems. 68% of girls answered that they are facing problems to some extent and 32% answered that they are facing much problems.

Table: 1

Responses / Male / Female
Frequency / Percentage / Frequency / Percentage
To some extent / 16 / 32 / 34 / 68
Much / 34 / 68 / 16 / 32
Total / 50 / 100 / 50 / 100

Fig: 1

Focus group discussion session also indicates the same results because majority of the boys are not accepted in organizations due to the lack of job opportunities but on the other hand women are also facing much problems.

3.2 Gender biasness in job market

98% boys answered that gender biases exist in giving jobs and 2 % think there are no gender biases. 72% girls answered that gender biases exist in giving jobs and 28 % think there are no gender biases.

Table: 2

Responses / Male / Female
Frequency / Percentage / Frequency / Percentage
Yes / 49 / 98 / 36 / 72
No / 1 / 2 / 14 / 28
Total / 50 / 100 / 50 / 100

Fig: 2

Majority of the respondents are facing the gender biasness in jobs market. All organizations prefer females because they have better communication skills and due to the opposite sex attraction like receptionist jobs. Female respondents are also agree that there is gender biasness exist in job competition.

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3.3 Job without a strong reference

88% boys answered that it is difficult to get job without reference and 12% boys disagreed with that.

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56% girls answered that it is difficult to get job without reference and 44% girls disagreed with that.

Table:3

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Responses / Male / Female
Frequency / Percentage / Frequency / Percentage
Yes / 44 / 88 / 28 / 56
No / 6 / 12 / 22 / 44
Total / 50 / 100 / 50 / 100

Fig: 3

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During the focus group discussion a large number of respondents agree that job is not possible without the strong reference (Sifarish). Feudal and political interference reduce the job opportunities for those segments that fall on merit.

3.4 Job without experience

92% boys answered that it is difficult to get job without experience and 8% boys disagreed with that.

72% girls answered that it is difficult to get job without experience and 28% girls disagreed with that.

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Table: 4

Responses / Male / Female
Frequency / Percentage / Frequency / Percentage
Yes / 46 / 92 / 36 / 72
No / 4 / 8 / 14 / 28
Total / 50 / 100 / 50 / 100

Fig: 4

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After the focus group discussion it is concluded that fresh graduates face job problems severely due to the lake of the experience. Majority of the males and female respondents said that it is very difficult to do job without any experience. Organizations prefer experienced person for job as compare to the fresh graduates.

3.5 Some other factors of unemployment

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After the conclusion of the focus group discussion it is concluded that there are many more factors that are prominent hindrance on the way of employment. Majority of the respondents agree on this point that over population, lack of the resources and weak political and social institutions are also main reason of unemployment. As Pakistan is facing severe shortage of electricity and this short fall is destroying economic activities, business and production in this context majority of the respondents raised the issue that electricity shortage is the major reason of unemployment in Pakistan. During the focus group discussion it is observed and concluded that bribery (rishwat) is also a prominent reason of unemployment in Pakistan.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Educated youth is facing so many problems in finding jobs and in starting their job careers. The situation is serious because majority of the segments agreed that they cannot get job without a reference (sifarish) and bribery. It is also observed that majority of the fresh graduates are not accepted in job market because the demand of experienced segments is high as compare to the fresh ones. On the other hand job opportunities are too low due to the overpopulation and lake of resources, wages are also low hence the majority of the segments don’t accept low wages and long working hours but most of them are having problem to get job even on less pay. After the whole study it is concluded that gender biasness or market segmentation is also exist in the matter of employment is also present and jobs are allocated regarding to the sex. As the Pakistan is facing sever energy crisis in this era in this context majority of the respondents highlighted that energy crisis is also a prominent reason of unemployment in Pakistan.

REFERENCES

Chaudry, M.A. and . Hamid(1998)Unemployment in Pakistan. Pakistan economics and social review 36:2, 147-170.

Govt. of Pakistan. 2011. Labour force survey. Fed. Bureau of Statistics. Islamabad, Pakistan.

Ghosh, S.: Electricity supply, employment, and real GDP in India: evidence from cointegration and Granger- causality tests. Energy Policy 37 , 2926–2929 (2009)

Jacqueline, G. 2004. “Occupational Pressures in Banking: Gender Differences.” Women in Management Review, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 219-225

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Khan, A.M., Qayyum, A.: Dynamic modeling of energy and growth in South Asia. Pak. Dev. Rev.46, 481– 498 (2007)

Mehmood, Z. Akhtar, N. Ameen, M and Idree, M(2011) Causes of Unemployment Among the educated Segments. Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.27, No.1, 2011

Malik, Z., Malik, F.Z., Malik, G.Z. & Khan, F. (2011). Pakistan Observer, eyes and ears of Pakistan. Retrieved from pakobserver.net/201204/07/detailnews.asp on 16-09-2012

Naqvi, Z. F. and S. Lubna (2002), How do women decide to work in Pakistan? The Pakistan Development Review, Volume 41(4), pp. 495-513.

Qayyum, W. (2007), Causes of youth unemployment in Pakistan. The Pakistan Development Review, Volume 46, No. 4, Part II.

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