AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL of HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES(ARJHSS, Vol. 12, No2, May, 2019)||gubdjournals.org SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME IN RIVERS STATE By Orlu Chukwuemeka PhD [email protected] Sociology Department, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt 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, Ahoada and Omoku from the upland while Abonnema, 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 88 | P a g e AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL of HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES(ARJHSS, Vol. 12, No2, May, 2019)||gubdjournals.org 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, 2019)||gubdjournals.org 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).