Cost Of Unemployment

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Cost of unemployment Unemployment refers to the condition and extent of joblessness within an economy. The reasons that Governments place such importance on reducing the level of unemployment are because unemployment poses great costs in an economy. These costs can be grouped into different categories. Cost of unemployment to the unemployed people themselves: People who are unemployed face several costs. First of all, unemployed people will receive less income that they would do if they were employed. This is assuming that they receive some unemployed benefits. Clearly if there is no unemployment benefit, then the situation is much worse. A reduction in income implies a lower standard of living for those that are unemployed and perhaps their families’ as well. The costs worsen the longer the people are unemployed. It is quite likely that a person who remains unemployed for a long period of time could become increasingly dejected and this could contribute to high levels of stress and the problems associates with it. Costs of unemployment to society: The social costs of unemployment can most clearly be seen in areas where there are high levels of unemployment in form of poverty, higher rates of crime and vandalism, increased gang activities, etc. Rising unemployment is linked to social and economic deprivation - there is some relationship between rising unemployment and rising crime and worsening social dislocation. Areas of high unemployment will also see a decline in real income and spending together with a rising scale of relative poverty and income inequality. As younger workers are more geographically mobile than older employees, there is a risk that areas with above average unemployment will suffer from an ageing potential workforce - making them less attractive as investment locations for new businesses. Costs of unemployment to the economy as a whole:
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