Chapter 1

Topic: "What are the causes of unemployment in Retirement Roadside?

Rationale

The researcher being a member of the community of Retirement Roadside has observed that over the years members of Retirement Roadside have said to be unemployed. This has aroused her interest, hence the topic What are the causes of unemployment in Retirement Roadside?

Research Questions
1. What are the factors that contribute to the unemployment in Retirement Roadside? 2. How does unemployment affect the people in Retirement Roadside? 3. What can be done to decrease the numbers of unemployment in Retirement Roadside?

Method of Data Collection

In order to collect data from the survey the researcher decided to use printed questionnaires.

Justification of Method

The questionnaires as a tool for collecting data have a number of advantages: The responses are gathered in a standardized way, so questionnaires are more objective, certainly more so than interviews. Can be carried out by the researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to its validity and reliability. It is not time consuming. It assures confidentiality.

Construction of Instrument
Sex: Male Female

To what group do you belong? Under 20 years 21-30 years 31-40 years 41-50 years Over 50 years

1. How long have you been residing in Retirement Roadside? Over 10 years 6-10 years 1-5 years Under 1 year

2. Are you currently employed? Yes No

3. What level of education do you have? Primary Secondary Tertiary

Other _______________

4. Is unemployment evident in Retirement Roadside? Yes No

5. What form of unemployment is present in Retirement Roadside? Casual Seasonal Cyclical Frictional Residual

6. What do you think causes unemployment? Low educational levels Lack of job opportunities Unskilled individuals High transportation cost

Other ______________________ (Please specify)

7. In which age group is the level of unemployment most evident? 18-21 22-30 31-40 41-50

8. Which gender is mostly unemployed? Male Female

9. What effect does unemployment have on the community? Criminal activities Drug addiction

Poor living conditions Other _____________________

10. As a result of unemployment individuals tend to get involved in: Break-ins Praedial larceny Gangs

Other __________________

11. What do you think can be done to reduce unemployment in Retirement Roadside? Creation of industries Attending vocational institutions Join National Youth Service Sign up with a work agency

12. What can the working class in the community do to help the unemployed? Summer jobs Part-time jobs Open shops, stores etc.

Other ___________________

Chapter 2

Procedure of Data Collection

The community of Retirement Roadside currently has approximately 80 houses. It was calculated that a sample of 25% was necessary in order to ensure accurate conclusions on the level of unemployment in the area.

A total of 21 questionnaires were typed for distribution. Each questionnaire consists of 12 questions. Out of the 21 questionnaires, 20 were issued to the residents; the remaining questionnaire was included in the research. It was expected that at least 15 of these questionnaires would be returned.

The age group of the respondents range from 18-45 years. Twelve (12) females responded while there were eight (8) males. It took the researcher five (5) days to collect the questionnaires that were completed.

Chapter 3

Presentation of Data
Fig.1

Causes of Unemployment
60 Percentage of Respondents 50 40 30 20 10 0 unskilled individuals lack of job opportunities high transportation low educational levels costs

Causes of unemployment

Fig.1 is a bar graph showing some of the various causes of unemployment in retirement roadside.

Fig.2

Effects of Unemployment
5.00%

10.00%
15.00% Praedial larceny Break-ins 70.00% Gangs Other

Fig.2 is a pie chart showing the effects of unemployment on the residents of Retirement Roadside.

Fig.3

Ways to Decrease Unemployment

Solutions Attending vocational institutions Join National Youth Service Sign up with a work agency Creation of Industries Percentage of Respondents 60% 25 10% 5%

Fig.3 is a table showing different solutions for solving the problem of unemployment in Retirement Roadside.

Chapter 4

Interpretation and Analysis of Data

It has been unanimously agreed up on that one major cause of unemployment is the low educational level of the residents in the community. This is due to the fact that majority of the residents only have received education up to the grade nine (9) or ten (10) level. Another cause of unemployment is the high transportation costs which is represented by 25% of the data collected. Most of the jobs available are in the major towns of Ocho Rios and St. Anns Bay. To get to either location, residents of Retirement Roadside have to take two (2) transportations to and fro and the costs range from $500.00-$600.00. Lack of job opportunities was another cause which represented by 15%, while unskilled individuals accounts for the other 10% of the data collected. A significant amount of the jobs being offered require a skill and therefore those without a skill will not have a chance at being employed.

A large percentage of the residents of Retirement Roadside say that praedial larceny (70%) is one of the major effects unemployment has on the community. Residents say there have been reports of break-ins (15%) in the community due to the unemployment rate. Individuals have decided to take what they want without having to work or pay them. A minority of 10% of the residents say individuals have formed gangs as a means to occupy and appease themselves. While an amount of 5% say unemployment has other effects on the residents.

Residents have selected a number of ways by which they feel the rate of unemployment can be decreased in Retirement Roadside. An undisputed 60% of respondents feel that by attending

vocational institutions, the level of unemployment can be decreased. Another 25% of respondents stated that joining the National Youth Service is another good solution to the problem of unemployment. A mere 10% say signing up with a work agency could help, while 5% say the creation of industries could also help in reducing unemployment in Retirement Roadside.

Chapter 5

Findings

The research has revealed a number of issues with respect to unemployment in Retirement Roadside, Moneague. These include the following: 1. Low educational level is the major cause of unemployment in the community. This was indicated by 50% of the residents. Other causes were high transportation costs, lack of job opportunities and unskilled individuals. 2. The major effect that unemployment has on the community is praedial larceny. This was represented by 70% of the respondents. Break-ins, gangs and other effects were also stated. 3. The attending of individuals at vocational institutions (60%) was one of the most important solutions given.

Recommendations
From the data collected in the survey, the researcher has come up with a few recommendations to curve the issue of unemployment in the community of Retirement Roadside.

One such recommendation is that the individuals who are unemployed can attenda vocational institution to learn a skill which they can use to get a job.

Another recommendaation is the unemployed can join the National Youth Service where they will garner a skill.

Implementation

Individuals who are unemployed can attend vocational institutions to acquire a skill. There are different vocational institutions which they can attend such as HEART Trust NTA, College of Hospitality etc. Not only will these individuals acquire a skill but some of these institutions also does job placement after completion of training.

Table of Contents
Titles
Acknowledgement Introduction

Pages
i ii

Chapter 1 Topic Rationale Research Questions Method of Data Collection Justification of Method Construction of Instrument 1 2 3 4 5 6-8

Chapter 2 Procedure of Data Collection 9

Chapter 3 Presentation of Data 10-11

Chapter 4 Interpretation and Analysis of Data 12-13

Chapter 5 Findings Recommendations Implementation Bibliography 14 15 16 17

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Name: Nickera Lawrence School: Marcus Garvey Technical Subject: Social Studies Teacher: Mrs. Stephenson-Campbell Candidate No.: Center No.: Territory: Jamaica