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
1 INTRODUCTION
Statistics in 2011. According to this survey, the
unemployment has been increased from 5.6% in
The Islamic republic of Pakistan had been
2009 to 6% in 2011. This increase has been
established in 14 august 1947 having four
measured for both males and females. Females
provinces like Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and
are more unemployed (8.9%) as compared to
Sarhad. Unemployment is one of the burning
males (5.1%) (LBF Survey, 2011). Population of
issues of Pakistan. An individual, who has ability
Pakistan is increasing rapidly as zafar et al (2011)
and willing to do work, is not able to get job
concluded that population growth is the real cause
opportunity is called unemployed person. In the
of unemployment in Pakistan and the Population
current scenario more than 30 lac individuals are
growth in Pakistan is currently registered at an
unemployed in Pakistan (Malik et al., 2011).The
annual rate of 2.1% which is one of the highest in
rate of unemployment in Pakistan can be
the world. On the other hand resources are
calculated by the collaboration of Labor Force
declining day by day as Chaudry and Hamid (1998)
Survey conducted by the Federal Bureau of
170
concluded that less number of resources are the
institutions according to this point of view the
main reason of unemployment and Qayyum (2007)
person who have strong reference (safaris) and
founded that a large number of educated young
approach to the feudalists or the political leaders
people are facing higher unemployment rate in
can get job easily. Economic development also
Pakistan. Gender participation in labor market is
depends upon the availability of energy sources
also increasing in Pakistan. Due to the globalization
like khan et al (2007) proved the relationship
and changing patterns of the society the women
between energy and economic growth. Lack of the
are also willing to participate in labor force to run
energy sources means no economic development
their families, the Results of Naqvi and Lubna
and this imbalance between the economic
(2002) also indicates that women participation in
development and energy sources is also cause of
economic activities increase with age in Pakistan
unemployment in Pakistan as in the case of India,
and conclusions indicates that there is a higher
Ghosh (2009) have observed the nexus between
evidence of unemployment among female youth
electricity supply, employment and GDP.
in Pakistan.
2 METHODOLOGY
In the current circumstances of Pakistan the
tendency of both genders towards education is
Two methods were used to collect the data.
very high. Educated youth including males and
Firstly quantitative method is used to collect the
females drop their c.v in different governmental
and
non-governmental
organizations
data. A hundred questionnaires were fulfilled by
and
those students who have completed their sixteen
institutions but unfortunately seek negative
years of education in the city Lahore Pakistan.
response from the job market. Some jobs like
Convince sampling technique is used for selection
receptionist etc are associates to the females only
of the respondents. Hence 50 respondents were
due to the attraction of the opposite sex but on
males and 50 were females and results were
the other side some jobs are appropriate only for
interpreted by applying Statistical formula of
the male segments that’s why there is a strong
percentage.
gender biasness and discrimination exist in job
market as Jacqueline (2004) identified that gender
P= f/n × 100 where P = percentage, f= frequency,
discrimination always exists in the labor market.
n = total sample size and 100 is constant.
And
this
gender
biasness
leads
to
the
unemployment among the educated segments.
Secondly qualitative method is used to collect the
Pakistan have the strong feudal political system in
data. Four focus group discussions were conducted
this perspective the feudalists and political leaders
two groups was containing males and two groups
have strong influence on social and governmental
for females. Each group had eight respondents.
171
Data is interpreted by combining the qualitative
Focus group discussion session also indicates the
and quantitative results.
same results because majority of the boys are not
accepted in organizations due to the lack of job
3 RESULTA AND DISCUSSION
opportunities but on the other hand women are
3.1 Extent of problems to faced
also facing much problems.
32% of boys answered that they are facing
3.2 Gender biasness in job market
problems to some extent and 68% of boys
98% boys answered that gender biases exist in
answered that they are having much problems.
giving jobs and 2 % think there are no gender
68% of girls answered that they are facing
biases. 72% girls answered that gender biases exist
problems to some extent and 32% answered that
in giving jobs and 28 % think there are no gender
they are facing much problems.
biases.
Table: 1
Respon
Table: 2
Male
Female
Respon
ses
To
Freque
Percent
Freque
Percent
ncy
age
ncy
age
16
32
34
68
extent
34
68
16
32
Total
50
100
50
100
Female
ses
some
Much
Male
Freque
Percent
Freque
Percent
ncy
age
ncy
age
Yes
49
98
36
72
No
1
2
14
28
Total
50
100
50
100
Fig: 2
Fig: 1
120%
100%
80%
80%
60%
60%
40%
male
males
females
40%
20%
20%
0%
0%
some
yes
much
172
no
Majority of the respondents are facing the gender
receptionist jobs. Female respondents are also
biasness in jobs market. All organizations prefer
agree that there is gender biasness exist in job
females because they have better communication
competition.
skills and due to the opposite sex attraction like
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.
56% girls answered that it is difficult to get job without reference and 44% girls disagreed with that.
Table:3
Responses
Male
Female
Frequency
Percentage
Frequency
Percentage
Yes
44
88
28
56
No
6
12
22
44
Total
50
100
50
100
Fig: 3
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
males
50%
females
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
yes
no
During the focus group discussion a large number
political interference reduce the job opportunities
of respondents agree that job is not possible
for those segments that fall on merit.
without the strong reference (Sifarish). Feudal and
173
3.4 Job without experience
72% girls answered that it is difficult to get job
without experience and 28% girls disagreed with
92% boys answered that it is difficult to get job
that.
without experience and 8% boys disagreed with
that.
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
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
males
50%
females
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
yes
no
After the focus group discussion it is concluded
difficult to do job without any experience.
that fresh graduates face job problems severely
Organizations prefer experienced person for job as
due to the lake of the experience. Majority of the
compare to the fresh graduates.
males and female respondents said that it is very
3.5 Some other factors of unemployment
After the conclusion of the focus group discussion
that are prominent hindrance on the way of
it is concluded that there are many more factors
employment. Majority of the respondents agree
174
on this point that over population, lack of the
whole study it is concluded that gender biasness or
resources and weak political and social institutions
market segmentation is also exist in the matter of
are also main reason of unemployment. As
employment is also present and jobs are allocated
Pakistan is facing severe shortage of electricity and
regarding to the sex. As the Pakistan is facing sever
this short fall is destroying economic activities,
energy crisis in this era in this context majority of
business and production in this context majority of
the respondents highlighted that energy crisis is
the respondents raised the issue that electricity
also a prominent reason of unemployment in
shortage is the major reason of unemployment in
Pakistan.
Pakistan. During the focus group discussion it is
observed and concluded that bribery (rishwat) is
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4 CONCLUSIONS
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