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SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME IN By

Orlu Chukwuemeka PhD [email protected] Sociology Department, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education,

Abstract When unemployment issue is raised what quickly comes to mind is the vulnerability of the youth population. From cursory observation, youths are the worst hit in unemployment situation in Nigeria. Therefore, as a result of alarming youth unemployment, there is high crime rate among the youths in Rivers State, This is because unemployment certainly creates the environment in which frustration breeds and stress increased, resulting in a feeling of hopelessness, especially in Rivers State where there is no adequate provision for social welfare as to give temporary relief for the unemployed. Unemployment can lead to crime as a result of deprivation, rejection, personal failure and mental stress, apathy and illness. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between youth unemployment and crime in Rivers State. To achieve this objective, two hypotheses were frame, questionnaires, interviews and observational techniques were sources of our data. Rivers State was divided into Riverine and upland. Three communities were randomly sample from each of the zones viiz Port Harcourt, and from the upland while , Degema and Abalama from the Riverine zones respectively. 180 copies were distributed across the six communities at 30 copies each based on Likert scale of Strongly Agreed (SA) Agreed (A) Strongly Disagreed (SD) and Disagreed (D) respectively. Above all 180 copies were properly filled and returned. The study recommends that government and management of organizations should create employment opportunities as to save the youths from criminality.

Keywords. Sociological youth, unemployment, crime

Introduction In Nigeria, the youth is the portion of the population between the ages of 18 and 25 who are residents of the Nigerian Federal Republic. The youth represent the most active, the most volatile, and yet the most vulnerable segment of the population socio-economically and emotionally. At the growth rate of 2.8% per annum, Nigeria’s 2012 population of 166.2million was projected at about 186million in the year 2016. Statistics show that the young people constitute about 60% of the total population in Nigeria (Afangidah 2016, Akinwale 2012). It is overwhelmingly accepted that the youth have a critical role to play in the society. To every society, the youth are the foundation, and their energies invectiveness, character and orientation define the pace of development and the security of a nation. When their creative talents and labour power are effectively garnered, a nation makes giant strides in economic development and socio- political attainments. The dreams and hopes of the youth motivate a nation while she builds her vitality and purpose through their (youths) energies. But, as a vulnerable group with unmet needs and aspirations, youths in Nigeria are faced with myriads of challenges (Afangideh 2016). One of such challenges is unemployment. Unemployment is a situation in which able bodied people who are looking for a job but cannot find it. It is also a situation where someone of working age is not able to get a job but would like to be in full-time employment if offered the opportunity. Dambazua (2007) sees it simply

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as enforced idleness of wage earners that are able and willing to work but cannot find job. Unemployment is regarded as a social problem in Nigeria. Sociologically, Nigeria's high unemployment rate is one of the country's most important problems, despite Nigeria being richly endowed with numerous human and economic or material resources. Adverse policies on the part of those at the helm of affairs have resulted in the under-utilization of these tools, that is, they have not been used efficiently to produce full economic growth and thus contribute to unemployment. Studies have recently shown that one in every 15 Nigerian graduates is unemployed. It's common practice to see young graduates looking for job openings on a newspaper stand and internet free. Unemployment has social implications, as it raises the country's crime rates. For certain cases the high crime rate can be attributed to unemployment. There have been cases where young graduates have been arrested for engaging in one type of crime or another, the majority of these criminal graduates attribute their involvement in crime to the country's unemployment situation. Every responsible and centralized government should be worried about the condition of unemployment in Nigeria. The past and present government of Nigeria, sadly have always failed to effectively cope with the country's unemployment issues (Hassan 2010).

It has been argued that unemployment can lead to crime as a result of deprivation, rejection and personal failure. It is also claimed that unemployment can lead to crime as a result of deprivation, rejection and personal failure. It is also claimed that unemployment could lead to mental stress, apathy and illness factors that could pave way to criminal behavior. The main argument is tied to economic growth, that is during economic recessions, crime (especially property crime) tends to grow rapidly. It is argued that economic recession results to greater unemployment, and this drives people into criminal behavior (Field 1990). Crime is an offence against the value system of a society. The cost effects of crime vary among the various segments of the population and touches almost everyone by some degree and in general as the economic growth and development of countries increase, it would be expected that crime level reduces. This may not necessarily be the socio-economic effects of crime have been well articulated in the literature (Odumosu 199, ESEC 2008, Akpotu and Jike 2004, Egunjobi 2001). The various costs of crime to victims and society or economy include loss of income, property losses, loss in community productivity. Some other costs of crime, which are less tangible, include psychological trauma on victims and their family and friends, pain and suffering and a lowe quality of life. In all of these and other associated losses, the ultimate cost is loss of life (Omotola 2009).

Objectives of the Study The following are the objectives of this study: (i) To examine the relationship between youth unemployment and crime in Rivers State. (ii) To identify factors responsible for youth unemployment in Rivers State.

Hypotheses The study was built on the following hypotheses: (i) Unemployment has no relationship with crime in Rivers State (ii) Bad economy, adverse policies, multination’s high-handedness, excesses of host communities, etc are not some of the factors affecting youth unemployment in Rivers State.

Theoretical Framework 89 | P a g e AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL of HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES(ARJHSS, Vol. 12, No2, May,

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The theory that situates this study is the strai theory espoused by Cohen (1955). The theory asserts that delinquency and crime are the behavioural outcome of socially disorganized urban slum. The theory posits that crime and delinquency result when people experience strain or frustration and anger from their inability to attain expected goals. The theory asserts that youths behave contrary to conventional norms because they develop a subculture within their lower class areas because of frustration occasioned by joblessness. The subculture has been characterized as having an inverse value system to that of conventional state of civilization. It opposes non-violence as well as establish delinquent behaviours which may be detrimental to the society. The theory explains that the unemployed youth represent a protest against the norms and values thereby indulge in crime when they experience culture conflict or status frustration, which manifest from their incapability to achieve success (employment) in legitimate social existence. Given the fact that youth crime are multiple-caused, its impact or consequences are severe on the national security.

Related Literature There are plethora of litearure on unemployment and crime and their attendant effects or costs or determinants, Omotola (2009), Akpotu and Jike (2004). Egunjobi (2017) in his analyses of Nigerian nation observes that there exists a strong link between youths unemployment and criminality. However, youth and crime refers to criminal acts committed by young unemployed people aged between 18-40 years. Iwarimia-Jaja (2002) opines that most crimes in contemporary societies are committed by youths and the most feared youth crime today in violent crimes. Youth crimes are engaged by street gangs and groups that can terrorize mega cities, and are characterized by the life-style of multiple criminal acts. Youth unemployed crime is a major issue and a aspect of crime which receives great attention from the news media and even politicians. The level and types of unemployed youth can be used by commentators as an indicator of the general state of morality and law and order in a country and consequently assumes a high dimension of criminality. Walklate (2003) assumes that causes of crime should be focused on youth as adult criminals may have likely started offending when they were young. Eadie and Morley (2003) suggest that youth unemployment are crimes disproportionately committed by young men. The theory is that menhip will increase the likelihood of young men offending. That being strong, efficient, violent, confident and competitive may be a way for young men to show their manhood. It can drive young people to engage in anti-social and criminal behaviour. Alternatively, young men may be instinctively more violent and bold than young men who behave in the same manner due to social pressure to adhere to masculine standards. The way young men are treated by parents may make them more vulnerable to crime as well as biological and psychological factors, Walkla (2003).

Crimes committed by youths in Nigeria are too numerous. They include, among others murder, manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, larceny, theft and counterfeiting, embezzlement, fraud (419), cyber fraud (419), cyber fraud or internet scam, gambling, traffic violations, selling and using narcotic drugs, rituals, killings (the act of burning public or private property), shoplifting, picking pockets, militancy, kidnapping oil bunkering and hostage-taking, money extortions, examination malpractices, cultism, car theft, treason, unlawful possession of arms, child-stealing and trafficking. Infact, most crimes are committed by youths.

Causes of Youth Unemployment

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A lot of factors are responsible for youths unemployment. Adebayo (1999) assumes that when the supply of labor exceeds the demand for it at the prevailing wage rate, unemployment occurs. The rapidly increasing urban labour-force resulting from rural-urban migration on the the supply side. Rural-urban migration is commonly explained by the push-pull factors. The push factors include the pressure in rural areas resulting from man-land ratio, and the existence of severe underemployment resulting from the seasonal cycle to climate. In Nigeria the factors are further compounded by the shortage of infrastructural facilities that make rural life unattractive. The pull factors include a wide difference in rural-urban income in favor of urban dwellers and a presumed higher likelihood of securing lucrative employment in cities. This means that in allocating social and economic resources the rural areas are ignored.

Sarr (2000) writes that youth migrants, according to United Nation report in 1999, in Africa are three times more in number than other migrants. The report also added that the urbanization rate of the youth was 32 percent in 1990, compared to less than 25 percent for the none-youths in the Africa will be residing in urban areas where job opportunities are limited to few modern sectors and establishments. In this respect, the United Nations recommends that programmesrs of integrate rural development and re- oriented economic activities and social investment towards the rural areas need to be mebarked upon to create an appropriate rural-urban economic balance. Another supply factor facing Nigeria is rapid population growth. High population growth rate has resulted in rapid growth of the labourforce which is far outstripping the supply of jobs. Goldstein and Hollister (1994) points out the effect of the accelerated growth of population on Nigeria’s unemployment problem is multi-faceted . Firstly, it affects the supply side through a high and rapid increase in labour force relative to the absorptive capacity of the eocnomy. Secondly, the increase in the number of children in the population presently implies a serious burden. Manning and Junakar 91998) opines that the total graduates out-turned by higher institutions in Nigeria which was 73,339 in 1980/87 rose to 131,016 in 1996/1997. The sustainable growth of higher education has been accompanied by increasing difficulties in finding suitable employment by graduates in variety of courses. This shows that there is imbalance between the supply and demand for these different categories of highly educated manpower. Thus, rapid expansion of our educational system first acts directly to increase the supply of educated manpower above the corresponding demand for them and consequently contribute its quota to the problem of urban youth unemployment in Nigeria, Adebayo (1999).

Methods The objective of this study was to find out the relationship between unemployment and crime in Rivers State. To achieve the objective Rivers State was divided into Riverine and upland zones. Questionnaires, interviews and observational techniques were used. Three communities were randomly sampled from each zone, namely Omoku, Port Harcourt and Ahoada for upland, while Riverrine were Abonnema, Degema and Abalama 180copies of the questionnaire were distributed across the communities at 30 copies each based on the likert scale of strongly agreed (SA) Agreed (A) Strongly Disagreed (SD) and Disagreed (D) respectively. Above all 180 copies were also properly filled and returned.

Analysis of Hypotheses Hypothesis I Unemployment has no relationship with crime in Rivers State Table 1: Unemployment and Crime 91 | P a g e AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL of HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES(ARJHSS, Vol. 12, No2, May,

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Description of Items SA A SD D Total Responses 4 3 2 1 Item 5 60 60 20 40 180 Item 6 72 76 17 15 180 Item 7 65 82 20 13 180 Frequency 197 218 57 68 540 ∑Ranks X Frequency 788 654 114 68 1624 Source: Fieldwork, 2019

∑Ranks X Frequency Total Responses(n)

1624 540 = 3.01

= 3

Decision: Accept the hypothesis if the computed value is greater than the table value, otherwise reject the hypothesis which states that unemployment is not related with crime in rivers State. This implies that unemployment is related with crime.

Hypothesis II Bad economy, adverse policies, multinational high-handedness, excesses of host communities etc are some of the factors affecting unemployment in Rivers State

Table II: factors that affect employment Description of Items SA A SD D Total Responses 4 3 2 1 Item 8 60 50 30 40 180 Item 9 64 61 40 15 180 Item 10 52 58 35 35 180 Frequency 176 169 105 90 540 ∑Ranks X Frequency 704 507 210 90 1511 Source: Fieldwork, 2019

∑Ranks X Frequency Total Responses(n)

1511 540 = 2.20

= 2

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Decision: Accept the hypothesis if the computed value is greater than the table value, otherwise reject it. Based on the above analyses, we reject the hypothesis which states that bad economy, adverse polices, multinational high-handedness excesses of the host communities etc are not some of the factors affecting unemployment in Rivers State. This implies that bad economy, adverse policies, multinational high- handedness, excesses of the host communities etc are some of the factors affecting unemployment in Rivers State.

Conclusion Unemployment has serious psychological effect on youth. At the individual level, an unemployed person is psychologically devasted and may even become mentally deranged affect a very long period of unemployment. The confidence and self-esteem of the unemployed are greatly reduced and these conditions, may develop into a full blown psychosis, even leading to suicide.

Recommendations The following were recommended: (i) People should be security conscious because the greatest danger to national security, is the feeling of insecurity among the citizens, a situation that could result in indiscipline, loss of trust in authority, frustration, apathy, depression, agitation, anarchy and lawlessness among others. (ii) Young people should be gainfully employed to mitigate the unemployment crisis as youth crime is a big concern and an element of crime that attracts considerable public attention. (iii) Youths should be empowered in the absence of gainful opportunities. Government should create openings for youths unemployment to avert more criminal behaviours.

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