My Social Studies School Based Assessment
Subject: Social Studies
School: Central High
Candidate #:
Centre #:
Territory: Jamaica
Teacher: Mrs. Azan
Year: 2020
Title: Unemployment
TITLE PAGE
UNEMPLOYMENT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Firstly, I would like to thank God for blessing me with good health, the knowledge, and the
strength that I needed in order for me to complete my Social Studies SBA. Secondly, I want to
thank my teacher, Mrs. Azan who guided me throughout my assignment and for giving me the
opportunity to research and investigate such a burning issue. Finally, I would like to thank my
family members for helping and assisting me through this trial some period and the residents of
Chateau District for their corporation in this research.
INTRODUCTION
This School Based Assessment is being carried out with the intentions to examine and
investigate the social issue of unemployment. The Chateau District community is an average size
community, which is located in the parish of Clarendon, it has approximately two hundred and
fifty (250) households and it is estimated to be twenty (20) miles from the parish capital, May
Pen. I have been a resident of Chateau District for 15 years and during this time I have observed
that there is an escalation in the rate of unemployment rate within the community. Therefore, I
have decided to conduct a survey to interpret to what problems are faced by unemployed person
within the community.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENT
PAGE NUMBERS
Statement of the Problem………………………………………………………………...1
Reasons for selecting the Area of Research……………………………………………...2
Method of Investigation………………………………………………………………….3
Instrument used to Collect Data…………………………………………………………4
Procedure used to Collect Data…………………………………………………………...8
Presentation And explanation of Data……………………………………………………9
Analysis and Interpretation of Data…………………………………………………...…15
Findings………………………………………………………………………………......17
Recommendation and Implementation of Strategy ……………………………………...18
Appendix…. ……………………………………………………………………………...19
Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………….20
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
TOPIC: UNEMPLOYMENT
WHAT PROBLEMS ARE FACED BY THE UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS IN CHATTEAU
DISTRICT, CLARENDON.
The research being conducted seek to find the answers to the following Research Questions:
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
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What do you think causes the level of unemployment in my district?
How does unemployment affect the daily lives of unemployed persons in my district?
How do unemployed individuals meet their basic needs?
What are some problems unemployed persons in the community face when is comes to
finding job opportunities?
What do you think the government can do to solve the social problem of unemployment
in my community?
(1)
RATIONALE (REASONS FOR SELECTING THE AREA OF RESEARCH)
An inefficient level of unemployment can cause crime and other illegal activities within the
community. As we all know unemployment is still a phenomenon of today’s society and
according to https://coporatefinanceinstitute.com, unemployment is a term referring to
individuals who are employable and seeking a job but are unable to find a job. This research
intends to find out the causes and effects of unemployment in the area identified so that
recommendations can be made to have them resolved. The Chateau District is an average size
community, which is located in the parish of Clarendon.
(2)
METHOD OF INVESTIGATION
To investigate the problem and collect data from the survey, I have decided to use printed
questionnaires.
The questionnaires as a tool for collecting data has several advantages:
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

It can be done at the accessibility of the person required to have it completed.
It guarantees confidentiality since respondents are not required to attach their name.
It requires little time to be completed
The twenty (20) questionnaires consist of seventeen (17) questions. The answers for the
questions only require a tick or a short answer. The questionnaires were carried in complete
confidentially. Hence, respondents were not required to include any personal information such as
their names, telephone # and address.
(3)
INSTRUMENT USED TO COLLECT DATA
QUESTIONNAIRES
SURVEY OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN
CHATTEAU DISTRICT, CLAARENDON
Dear Residents,
This is a survey being carried out in Chateau District, Clarendon to determine the problems faced
by unemployed individuals in the community. This survey/ study is being conducted as an
assignment for Social Studies course, I am pursuing at present. You are advised to advised to
answer the following questions honestly as your answers will be strictly confidential. Since you
do not have to write your names anywhere, no one else will ever know who answered in a
particular way and your identity (ID) will remain hidden. Most of the questions can be answered
by a tick in the box like this or answer on the space provided. Remember this is not a test so
there are no right or wrong answers. Specific instructions are given were necessary.
Thank you for your cooperation
Sincerely
S. Higgins
(4)
QUESTIONNAIRES
Instructions: Please put a tick ☒ in the box next to the answer of your choice or write in the
space provided.
5. Gender
Male ☐
Female ☐
2. Which age group are you in?
19– 23 years ☐
24 – 28 years ☐
29 – 33years ☐
34 years & over ☐
3. How long have you been residing in Chatteau District?
Under 1 year ☐
1 – 5 years ☐
6 – 10 years ☐
Over 10 years ☐
4. Did you complete High school?
Yes ☐
No ☐
If no, why?
Responsibilities of younger siblings ☐
Lack of resources ☐
Peer Pressure ☐
Occurrence of pregnancy ☐
Financial problems ☐
Other problems ☐
5. Do you have any CXC subjects? If so, how many?
0☐
1–3 ☐
4–6☐
6 & over ☐
6. Are you currently seeking a job?
Yes ☐
No ☐
7. What do you think are the causes the level of unemployment in Chatteau District?
Lack of qualifications ☐
Lack of parental control ☐ Absence of educational opportunities☐
Lack of experience / skill ☐
Others ☐
(5)
8. How have unemployment affected your daily life?
Unemployment has affected me by:
No providing for my family☐
Having a decline in the standard of living☐
No meeting the basic needs ☐
Others☐
9. Do you think unemployment causes other social problems in Chatteau District? If so, which
one?
Domestic violence ☐
Substance (drug) abuse☐
Poverty ☐
None☐
Child Abuse☐
10. How do you meet your basic needs as an unemployed person?
Begging ☐
Hustling☐
Stealing ☐
Help from government ☐
Others ☐
Family Assistance☐
11. As an unemployed person living in the community, what problems do you face?
Criticism☐
Racism ☐
Peer Pressure☐
lack of resources☐ Others ☐
12. Approximately what percentage of residents in Chateau District do you think is unemployed?
10% - 20% ☐
30% - 40%☐
50% - 60% ☐
Others ☐
13. How do you think unemployed individuals in the community are treated compared to those
who are employed?
Treated fairly☐
Treated unfairly☐
Treated with respect☐
Treated equal ☐
14.a) Do you think residents of Chateau District help those who are unemployed?
Yes ☐
No ☐
Maybe☐
Don’t know ☐
(6)
b) If yes, what do they do to help?
Donate old belongings ☐ donate groceries/ eatables ☐
Fundraising ☐
Others (please specify)
15. What are some problems unemployed persons in the community face when it comes to
finding job opportunities?
Lack of jobs available☐
Job application practices are ineffective☐
Financials difficulties☐
Don’t have the relevant skill/ qualifications ☐
No work experience ☐
Others☐
16. When there is an unemployed person in a family, how do you think it affects the children in
the family?
Poor behavioral controls ☐
Academic failure/ school drop out☐
Lack of self-confident/esteem ☐
Others☐
17. What do you think the government can do to solve the social problem of unemployment in
Chatteau District?
Provide more skill training☐
Place extra emphasis on agriculture☐
Offer small business loans☐
Offer more job opportunities ☐
Others (please specify)
`
(7)
PROCEDURE USED TO COLLECT DATA
As I stated earlier, the community of Chateau District has approximately 250 households. Before
I could get started on collecting data, first I had to introduce myself to the residents and explain
the aspects of the questionnaires and how to answer them and what was it about.
A total of (20) questionnaires which consist of seventeen (17) questions were prepared for
distribution to the residents of the community. Therefore, I decided to randomly select twenty
(20) residents around the community and gave them each a questionnaire. I waited until all
questionnaires were completed, it was necessary as it ensured accurate data that was not
tampered with hence increasing validity and reliability. And then went home and began my
presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data.
(8)
PRESENTATION AND EXPLANATION OF DATA
A total of 20 questionnaires were distributed to the resident of the community Chateau District,
in which were returned.
PIE CHART SHOWING % OF PERSONS THAT ARE
EMPLOYED & UNEMPLOYED
Employed; 25%
Unemployed; 75%
Figure 1. shows that 75% of the respondents in Chateau District community are unemployed, while the
others 25% are employed.
(9)
BAR GRAPH SHOWING % OF HOW UNEMPLOYMENT
AFFECTED THE DAILY LIVES OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS
Others
Having a decline in the standard of living
No meeting the basic needs
No providing for my family
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Figure 2. is showing how unemployment has affected the daily lives of unemployed individuals.
It can be seen that fifty percent (50%) of unemployed persons has been affected by not meeting
their basic needs. Forty-five percent (45%) responded that they have been affected by no
providing for their families. Thirty- five percent (35%) have a decline in the standard of living.
And the remaining fifteen percent (15%) of respondents have been affected in other ways.
(10)
COLUMN CHART SHOWING % OF CAUSES OF
UNEMPLOYMENT IN CHATTEAU DISTRICT
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Lack of qualifiications Lack of parental control Absence of educational Lack of experience/ skill
opportunities
Others
Figure 3. This shows what cause the level of unemployment in the community of Chatteau
District. 70% of respondents answered lack of qualifications. 50% responded absence of
educational opportunities. Lack of experience accumulated 30% of the respondents. And 20% of
respondents said that lack of parental control was the cause of unemployment. Other problems
accumulated 5% of the respondents.
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PIE CHART SHOWING % OF HOW DO UNEMPLOYED
PERSONS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS
5% 5%
15%
20%
30%
25%
Stealing
Begging
Hustling
Family assistance
Help from government
Others
Figure 4. Is showing how unemployed persons in Chatteau District meet their basic needs. So, in
this representation it can be seen that 30% of unemployed persons hustle in order to meet their
basic needs. 25% sustained their basic needs by the help of family assistance. 20% of
respondents had help from the government. 15% of respondents turned to begging, while 5%
turned to stealing. Other ways in which respondents meet their basic needs accumulated 5%.
(12)
PIE CHART SHOWING % OF PROBLEMS UNEMPLOYED
PERSONS Job
FACED
WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A JOB
applications
No work experience ;
10%
practices are
inefficient; 10%
Don’t have the
revelent skill/
qualifications; 20%
Lack of jobs available;
40%
Financials difficulties ;
15%
Figure 5. Shows that 40% of respondents answered lack of job opportunities. 20% of respondents
responded they don’t have the relevant skill/ qualifications. 15% responded that they have
financial difficulties. 10% of respondents said that the lack of work experience is a main problem
for them when it comes to finding a job. And 10% of respondents job applications practices are
inefficient. No respondents had any other problems.
(13)
TABLE SHOWING PERCENTAGE (%) OF PROBLEMS FACED BY UNEMPLOYED
PERSONS
PROBLEMS FACED BY UNEMPLOYED
PERSONS
PERCENTAGE AMOUNT
Criticism
40%
Racism
30%
Peer Pressure
15%
Lack of Resources
10%
Other Problems
5%
Figure 6. Shows that 40% of respondents faced criticism. 30% of respondents answered racism.
I5% of respondents faces peer pressure. 10% responded lack of resources, while the remaining
5% of respondents faces other problems.
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ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
In doing my survey of Chatteau District, the questionnaires were distributed to 20 persons. Out
of that 20 persons, 13 are males while the other 7 are females.
In figure 1. It can observe that there is a greater number of unemployed persons living in
Chatteau District, and a lesser number of persons who are employed. Seventy-five percent (75%)
represent the unemployed persons, while twenty-five (25%) represent the employed persons.
According to www.jamaicaobserver.com Jamaica’s females workers have taken up more than
twice the number of jobs than the country’s men. In fact, the government agency, said that more
Jamaican woman are being employed as professionals, senior officials and Technician than men.
This is the reason why the males which represent 75% is unemployed and the females which
represent 25% is employed so, it seems like the women are more employable than the men due to
academic and experience.
In the proceeding questions, it requires respondents to tell how unemployment has affected their
daily lives. It was revealed in Figure 2. that fifty percent (50%) of respondents could not meet
their basic needs in this situation, due to the lack of finance and other resources. According to the
survey, forty-five percent (45%) cannot provide for their families due to the same reason stated.
Having a decline in the standard of living affected thirty-five percent (35%) of respondent lives
and fifteen percent (15%) of respondents were affected in different ways. Ways like, can not
afford to pay transportation fee so that causes them to either walk to where they want to go or
ask for a lift, as they say in Jamaica “beg a drive”.
Figure 3. shows what causes the level of unemployment in the community. Of all five options, a
majority of the respondents chose lack of qualifications as the main cause of unemployment in
the community. According to http://glosbe.com many graduates are not employed because they
lack the qualifications needed for jobs they have applied for and because of globalization
combined with automation and mechanization it is getting progressively harder for citizens who
lack qualifications to find a job. Therefore, in comparing the questionnaires and the researches
that have been done, the researcher has realized that her data collected was truly valid as this was
previously studied and the same results emerged. The percentage of respondents who chose this
is seventy percent (70%). While fifty percent (50%) of respondents chose absence of educational
opportunities, which they stated causes them to not be able to further their educations. Lack of
parental control was chosen by twenty percent (20%) of respondents, because when a child does
not have parental control, they will most likely to head in the wrong direction, which can ruin
that child’s life. Thirty percent (30%) had lack of experience/ skill and the while five percent
(5%) of respondents had other causes for them to be unemployed.
Ways in which unemployed persons meet their needs. Out of 100% of respondents in Figure 4,
Thirty percent (30%) say that they hustle in order to meet their basic needs. These acts included;
selling goods such as clothes, refreshments (soda, bag juice), food (biscuits, chocolates), kitchen
utensils, etc. or services. Twenty-five percent (25%) sustained their basic needs because they had
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help from family members in which they assisted/ provide them with the necessary things they
might need, these things included; clothes, money, food, school equipment and other essentials.
Twenty percent (20%) received from the government through program such as PATHE. Fifteen
percent (15%) of the respondents beg in order to provide for their basic needs. It seems like the
struggles got really bad for the five percent (5%) of respondents, they started stealing to provide
and meet the basic needs of themselves and their families. And the remaining five percent (5%)
had other ways in which they meet their basic needs. Due to this result, it can be concluded that
hustling is the way that most persons in the community provided and meet their basic needs.
The problems face by unemployed persons when it comes to finding job opportunities include;
No work experience, financial difficulties, job applications practices are inefficient, they do not
have the relevant skill/ qualifications, lack of jobs available and other problems. Lack of jobs
available is one of the major factors why unemployed person have problems when it comes to
finding job opportunities. Figure 5. Shows that Forty percent (40%) of respondents succumbed to
lack of jobs which made their lives even more difficult than it was before. Twenty percent (20%)
of respondents do not have the relevant skill/ qualifications that the job requires. Fifteen percent
(15%) had financial difficulties/ problems, these include; difficulty paying for school fee and
difficulty paying for the necessary documents the job requires. Ten percent (10%) of respondents
have lack of work experience and because of this it is more difficult for them to apply for a job
because jobs nowadays want experience workers. And Ten percent (10%) of respondent’s job
applications practices are inefficient because they might not have the right recommendations, or
they have little or no experience in the working field. Then lastly the remaining others had no
other problems.
Figure 6. show what are some problems faced by unemployed person on a daily basis. Forty
percent (40%) of respondents chose criticism as one of the main problems that they go through.
When this occurs the persons feel worthless, unwanted and unloved by another and having these
feelings can sometimes make that person commit suicide. Another problem they face is racism
and racism also categorize a social issue. And it was chosen by thirty percent (30%) of the
respondents. Fifteen percent (15%) said that they went through peer pressure, they were forced to
do things they did not wanted to do by their peers. Finally, five percent (5%) faced other
problems such as physical and verbal abuse, domestic violence, etc.
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FINDINGS
During my investigation I have acquired a complication of information with which regards to
unemployment in Chatteau District. These are as follows:
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75% or (13) of respondents from the questionnaires are male and 25% or (7) of the
respondents are females as shown in Figure 1.
Most unemployed persons have been affected by not meeting their basic needs and a
majority of unemployed persons meet their basic needs through hustling, as shown in
Figure 4.
One major cause of unemployment in the community is lack of qualifications and the
problem that most unemployed person have is lack of jobs available, as shown in Figure
3.
Most unemployed individuals’ daily lives have been affected by unemployment by not
meeting the necessary basic needs. As shown in Figure 2.
Due to lack of job opportunities available, a majority of unemployed persons cannot find
a job, as shown in Figure 5.
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RECOMMENDATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY
After studying this social phenomenon closely, the researcher was able to come up with various
solutions to combat this social issue of unemployment. In the process of making these
recommendations and strategies to undertake and solved the problem of unemployment in the
community of Chatteau District, I would implement the followings:
1. Unemployment is one of the major causes of other social ills such as human trafficking,
poverty, abuse, etc. this is because people are trying to make a living for themselves
through illegal activities because there are no jobs available and because their time is not
occupied by some sort of activities or job. So, I recommend that the government should
provide more jobs for persons who are skilled, unskilled, illiterate and those who has
little no qualifications and has not completed school.
2. The government can implement an employment problem for unemployed individuals.
This program will cater the needs of unemployed persons that are not stable. The
program will provide unemployed persons with a job that can make them earn enough
money to support themselves and their family.
3. The community members can help educate children of parents that can’t afford to pay the
school fee, so that they have a better chance in being employed in the future.
4. Invite guess speakers to attend a forum, to advise the community about the causes and
effects of unemployment. And this advice/ information can further spread across the
country through broadcasting to inform the rest of the public about the causes and effects
of unemployment. This broadcasting can be achieved through different types of media
such as television, newspaper, magazines, radio, etc.
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APPENDIX
In 2005 photo, hundreds of farm work applicants gather at the St. Paul’s United Church in
Montego Bay, St. James, hoping to be selected for the programme.
Job seekers responded to a newspaper advertisement by the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
Unemployment among youth is a major problem.
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BIBLOGRAPHY
Rampersad Ramsawak and Ralph R. Modules in Social Studies with SBA guided and CXC
questions.
https://www.slideshare.net CSEC Social Studies- Sample SBA
https://coporatefinanceinstitute.com
https://glosbe.com
www.jamaicaobserver.com
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