worklessness

Question 1

What does the term ‘worklessness’ refer to?

Answer 1

Those who are not in employment.

Question 2

List 3 possible types of individuals that may not be in employment.

Answer 2

1. Out of choice - they have chosen to be unemployed.
2. They have been made redundant.
3. They are unable to find jobs.

Question 3

List the 6 reasons for unemployment.

Answer 3

1. Globalisation
2. New technologies
3. Decline of manufacturing
4. Decline of traditional heavy work
5. Increase in the working population
6. Growing flexibility and casualisation of work

Question 4

Summarise how globalisation may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 4

• Increases international competition from countries with lower costs.
• Outsourcing work; therefore don’t need as many workers.

Question 5

Summarise how new technologies may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 5

• Removes the number of workers required.
• New skills are needed, so old ones become redundant.

Question 6

Summarise how a decline in manufacturing industries may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 6

• Less people needed for unemployment.
• May effect men more than women as this is traditionally viewed as a male profession.

Question 7

Summarise how a decline of traditional heavy work industries may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 7

• Decline in mining, docking and steel for cheaper, imported products.

Question 8

Summarise how an increase in the working population may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 8

• More women working.
• More people living longer; working up to and beyong the State Pension age.
• More immigration.

Question 9

Summarise how a growing flexibility and casualisation of work may contribute to unemployment.

Answer 9

• Disguised unemployment through part time work.
• Growth in the proportion of periphery workers.

Question 10

List 3 impacts of unemployment on the indiviual.

Answer 10

1. Loss of identity, status and self esteem - search for work/welfare dependency may undermine self esteem.
2. Loss of regular income - creates anxiety/stress, could result in loss of home.
3. Social isolation/exclusion - loss of friendships formed through work, less money for leisure.

Question 11

List 3 impacts of unemployment on society.

Answer 11

1. Increase in social divisions - growing gaps between rich and poor + those in work and not in work.
2. More social problems - poverty, homelessness, suicide, crime, drugs.
3. Rising demands on the welfare state - fewer people in work to pay taxes and fund benefits yet more people will be needing them.

Question 12

What are the 4 ways in which worklessness can be measured?

Answer 12

1. Unemployment Rate
2. Economically Active Population
3. Claimant Count
4. International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Question 13

How does the unemployment rate measure worklessness?

Answer 13

It measures the % of the economically active population (working population) who are unemployed.

Question 14

How is worklessnesss measured through the economically active population?

Answer 14

It refers to those either at work or looking for/available to work.

Question 15

How is worklessness measured through the claimant count?

Answer 15

It refers to the unemployed but available for/actively seeking work and in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Question 16

What is the international labour organisation?

Answer 16

An internationally agreed defintion of unemployment.

Question 17

Who is included in the agreed definition of unemployment (ILO)?

Answer 17

• Those who don’t have a job.
• Those actively seeking work in the last four weeks and available to start in the next two weeks.
• Those out of work.
• Those who have found a job and are due to start in the next two weeks.
• Those who may or may not be claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Question 18

Who is said to be more likely at risk of worklessness: the young or the old?

Answer 18

• Both.
• Young people lack a variety of skills in experience in comparison to the older population.
• The elderly possess skills that may now be viewed as redundant.

Question 19

Who is said to be more likely at risk of worklessness: men or women?

Answer 19

• Men.
• Men are more likely to be in higher paid, full time positions.
• Although this is beneficial, in times of economic crisis, these positions are hit the hardest.

Question 20

Who is said to be more likely at risk of worklessness: minority ethnic groups or white middle class?

Answer 20

• Minority ethnic groups; BAME.

As of 2012 in the UK:
- 12% of mixed heritage groups,
- 13% of Bangladesh,
- 15% of Black African/Caribbean
- 17% of Pakistanis,
were unemployed.

• White people made up 5% of unemployment rates.

Question 21

Who is said to be more likely at risk of worklessness: the disabled or manual workers?

Answer 21

• Both.
• Those that are disabled are more at risk of experiencing poverty potentially due to worklessness.
• Manual workers are at a higher risk of losing their jobs as these roles are seen as ‘replaceable’.

Question 22

Who is said to be more likely at risk of worklessness: the North or the South?

Answer 22

• North
• With a national decline in the primary and secondary sector over the last 40 years, the North have experienced severe worklessness.
• Many companies have invested in Head Offices in major cities inc London and factories abroad.
• As many mines and nuclear plants closed over the years, alternative opportunities were not provided.