Unemployment as a Social Problem

Bibliographic Data

ID7078780
AuthorsMartin Ehlert (0000-0002-8772-8058, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, corresponding author)
Year2025
Pages1-5
Publication date2025-02-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeOTHER
VenueThe Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (JOURNAL)
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosu003.pub3
OpenAlexW4407743530
ISBN9781405165518
LanguageEN
References cited14

Unemployment is a social problem in industrialized and postindustrial societies because it leads to material and social deprivation for individuals, which in turn has far‐reaching negative effects on communities and whole countries. Work is the main income source in modern societies and frequently the prerequisite to be eligible for social security coverage. Furthermore, work is related to social integration and social status. Thus, losing employment leads to serious deprivation not only for the unemployed themselves but also for their children and other dependents in the household. Unemployment becomes a social problem for communities and societies where unemployment spreads and large groups of people are without employment. Consequently, many governments have social policies to decrease the dependence on labor income, including unemployment insurance and public pension systems, or to help those who are unemployed find new jobs

Economics · Macroeconomics · Unemployment · Employment and Welfare Studies · Labor market dynamics and wage inequality · Psychology · Social Policy and Reform Studies

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