Project – Influence of Unemployment on Youth Involvement in Social Vices: A Case Study of Selected Communities in Nasarawa State.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Unemployment is a major socioeconomic challenge that affects individuals, families, communities, and national development. It occurs when people who are available for work and actively seeking employment are unable to obtain suitable jobs. Beyond the loss of income, unemployment may affect self-esteem, psychological well-being, social relationships, and an individual’s ability to meet basic needs. For young people, the challenge can be particularly serious because the transition from education to employment is often accompanied by expectations of financial independence, social recognition, and personal development. When these expectations remain unmet, some young people may experience frustration, insecurity, social exclusion, and uncertainty about their future. The International Labour Organization (ILO, 2024) identifies the transition from education to employment and the quality of available work as important dimensions of youth labour-market outcomes. Consequently, youth unemployment should be understood not only as an economic problem but also as a social issue that may influence behaviour, community relations, and young people’s participation in productive activities.

The relationship between unemployment and social behaviour can be examined through established sociological theories. Merton’s (1938) strain theory explains that deviant behaviour may emerge when individuals experience a gap between socially encouraged goals and the legitimate means available to achieve them. In societies where material success, financial independence, and social status are highly valued, young people who lack access to employment or other legitimate economic opportunities may experience pressure to find alternative ways of achieving their aspirations. Such pressure does not mean that unemployed people will necessarily engage in criminal or antisocial conduct. Rather, it provides a theoretical explanation for how prolonged economic exclusion, when combined with other social and personal circumstances, may increase vulnerability to certain forms of deviance. Agnew’s (1992) general strain theory further explains that stressful experiences, the loss of valued opportunities, and exposure to negative conditions can generate emotions such as anger and frustration, which may influence behaviour depending on available coping mechanisms and social support. These theories provide a useful foundation for examining how unemployment may be associated with youth involvement in social vices.

Social vices refer to behaviours that violate legal requirements, social norms, or accepted standards of community welfare and may cause harm to individuals or society. Depending on the definition adopted for a particular study, these behaviours may include theft, fraud, drug misuse, cult-related violence, armed robbery, vandalism, political thuggery, and other forms of antisocial or criminal conduct. The causes of such behaviour are complex and may involve family circumstances, peer pressure, substance availability, social environment, personal experiences, educational opportunities, and the strength of community institutions. Unemployment may contribute to this wider set of risk factors when it creates persistent financial hardship, limits constructive use of time, or reduces access to legitimate opportunities for advancement. However, it is important to distinguish an association between unemployment and social vices from a direct causal relationship. The existence of unemployed young people who live lawfully and contribute positively to their communities demonstrates that joblessness alone cannot explain deviant behaviour. A sound investigation must therefore examine unemployment alongside the social and economic circumstances that may strengthen or weaken its relationship with youth behaviour (Merton, 1938; Agnew, 1992).

In Nigeria, youth unemployment has remained an important public policy concern because of the need to create productive opportunities for young people entering the labour market. Limited access to stable employment, underemployment, skills mismatches, and the predominance of informal economic activities can make it difficult for young people to secure adequate and reliable livelihoods. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2024), in its Nigeria Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2024, reported an overall unemployment rate of 5.3% and a youth unemployment rate of 8.4% among people aged 15–24 under its revised labour-force measurement framework. These figures should be interpreted according to the NBS methodology and should not be directly compared with older unemployment estimates produced under different definitions. In addition, the ILO’s analysis of Nigeria’s youth labour market highlights continuing challenges relating to school-to-work transitions and the availability of productive employment (O’Higgins et al., 2024). These labour-market conditions make it important to investigate the wider social consequences of youth unemployment, while recognising that the experience of joblessness differs according to location, education, skills, gender, family resources, and access to informal work.

The relationship between unemployment and youth social behaviour has also received attention in Nigerian research. Arowolo (2016), in a study of factors facilitating youth restiveness in Lafia metropolis, Nasarawa State, identified unemployment, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure among the factors associated with youth restiveness, with unemployment emerging as an important predictor in the study. Restiveness can involve persistent agitation, disruptive conduct, or resistance to prevailing social and political conditions, although it should not be treated as identical to all forms of criminal behaviour. Other research on Nigerian youth unemployment has also examined the links between joblessness, security challenges, and crime, suggesting that employment difficulties may be relevant to community safety when they occur alongside other risk factors (Uchechukwu et al., 2023). Such findings provide a basis for further investigation, but they do not justify assuming that every unemployed young person is likely to engage in social vices. Rather, they point to the need for local studies that examine the forms of behaviour reported in particular communities, the circumstances of young people, and the extent to which unemployment is associated with these experiences.

Nasarawa State provides a relevant setting for studying this issue because its communities differ in their economic activities, access to education and vocational training, availability of formal employment, and proximity to urban centres. These differences may shape the opportunities available to young people and the ways they respond to economic hardship. A study of unemployed youths in Nasarawa State published in a university research repository reported psychosocial experiences including financial hardship, loss of self-esteem, hopelessness, social isolation, and difficulties meeting personal and family needs. The study also described criminal lifestyle as one of the experiences reported by some participants, illustrating the potential connection between economic deprivation and wider social difficulties (Psychosocial Impacts of Unemployment and Coping Strategies among Youth in Nigeria, n.d.). In Lafia metropolis, Arowolo’s (2016) research similarly linked youth restiveness with unemployment and other socioeconomic conditions. Together, these findings suggest that the relationship between joblessness and youth behaviour warrants attention in Nasarawa State, particularly through research that considers the experiences of young people within their own communities rather than relying solely on national-level explanations.

Despite existing research on unemployment, youth restiveness, and crime, the influence of unemployment on youth involvement in social vices needs to be examined in the specific communities selected for this study. Local circumstances may differ in the availability of jobs, informal business opportunities, family support, vocational training, recreational facilities, community leadership, and access to social services. These conditions may affect both the experience of unemployment and the likelihood that young people encounter circumstances associated with antisocial conduct. The study will therefore examine the extent of youth unemployment in selected communities in Nasarawa State, identify social vices reported in those communities, investigate the socioeconomic and environmental factors that may influence youth involvement, and assess the relationship between unemployment and reported involvement in social vices. By focusing on a defined local setting, the study seeks to provide evidence that can support more effective employment initiatives, youth development programmes, community-based prevention strategies, and social support interventions. Its approach recognises that reducing youth involvement in social vices requires more than employment creation alone; it also requires attention to education, family and community support, lawful opportunities for advancement, and fair access to social and economic resources (Merton, 1938; Agnew, 1992; ILO, 2024).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Youth unemployment has become an important socioeconomic concern because of its potential implications for poverty, social exclusion, psychological well-being, and community stability. Young people who are unable to secure employment may experience difficulties meeting basic needs, supporting their families, pursuing further education, and achieving financial independence. Prolonged joblessness may also generate frustration and a sense of exclusion, particularly where young people perceive that legitimate opportunities for advancement are limited. Although unemployment does not automatically lead to criminality or other forms of social deviance, economic hardship may interact with peer influence, weak social support, substance misuse, and other environmental pressures to increase vulnerability to antisocial behaviour. Merton’s (1938) strain theory provides a framework for understanding how restricted access to legitimate opportunities may contribute to deviant responses under certain conditions. The central problem, therefore, is to determine whether and how unemployment is associated with youth involvement in social vices in selected communities in Nasarawa State.

A related problem is the persistence of socioeconomic conditions that may make it difficult for young people to obtain stable and productive livelihoods. Limited employment opportunities, inadequate access to relevant vocational training, skills mismatches, and financial constraints may leave some young people dependent on family members or irregular income-generating activities. Such circumstances can contribute to psychological distress, reduced self-esteem, and social exclusion. The International Labour Organization identifies school-to-work transitions and the availability of productive employment as important challenges in the Nigerian youth labour market (O’Higgins et al., 2024). Furthermore, Arowolo (2016) identified unemployment, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure as factors associated with youth restiveness in Lafia metropolis, Nasarawa State. Nevertheless, the relative contribution of unemployment compared with other social and economic factors requires further examination, particularly because young people facing similar employment difficulties may respond in different ways.

Another problem concerns the effects of youth involvement in social vices on individuals, households, and communities. Theft, fraud, drug misuse, violence, vandalism, and other harmful behaviours can undermine community security, damage relationships, discourage economic activity, and place additional pressure on families and public institutions. Where unemployment and harmful behaviour occur together, it may be difficult to establish whether joblessness is a contributing factor, whether both are influenced by other conditions, or whether the relationship differs among groups of young people. Research on youth unemployment and security challenges in Nigeria has considered the possible connections between limited employment opportunities and crime-related outcomes (Uchechukwu et al., 2023). However, broad findings cannot automatically explain the circumstances of every community in Nasarawa State. A focused investigation is therefore necessary to identify the forms of social vices reported in the selected communities and determine how these relate to unemployment, poverty, peer influence, family circumstances, and access to legitimate economic opportunities.

Furthermore, although previous research has examined youth restiveness in Lafia and broader unemployment-related social challenges in Nigeria, there remains a need for evidence focused on the selected communities covered by this study. Differences in local employment opportunities, educational attainment, family support, community supervision, vocational training, and social infrastructure may affect the relationship between unemployment and youth involvement in social vices. Without a clear understanding of these local conditions, interventions may focus too narrowly on job creation while overlooking other factors that influence young people’s behaviour and opportunities. This study therefore seeks to examine the influence of unemployment on youth involvement in social vices in selected communities in Nasarawa State. It will investigate the extent of unemployment, identify the social vices reported, examine the factors that may influence youth involvement, and determine the relationship between unemployment and involvement in social vices. The findings may provide evidence to guide employment programmes, youth empowerment initiatives, community interventions, and preventive policies.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of unemployment on youth involvement in social vices, using selected communities in Nasarawa State as a case study.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Examine the extent and nature of youth unemployment in selected communities in Nasarawa State.

2. Identify the common forms of social vices reported among youths in the selected communities.

3. Investigate the socioeconomic and environmental factors that may influence youth involvement in social vices in the selected communities.

4. Determine the relationship between unemployment and youth involvement in social vices in the selected communities in Nasarawa State.

1.4 Research Questions

The study will be guided by the following research questions:

1. What is the extent and nature of youth unemployment in selected communities in Nasarawa State?

2. What are the common forms of social vices reported among youths in the selected communities?

3. What socioeconomic and environmental factors may influence youth involvement in social vices in the selected communities?

4. What relationship exists between unemployment and youth involvement in social vices in the selected communities in Nasarawa State?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will guide the study:

H₀: There is no statistically significant relationship between unemployment and youth involvement in social vices in selected communities in Nasarawa State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The findings of this study are expected to be useful to government agencies, youth development organisations, community leaders, educational institutions, policymakers, researchers, and the general public.

Government and policymakers: The study may provide information on the relationship between youth unemployment and involvement in social vices in the selected communities. The findings may help policymakers formulate employment and youth development programmes that address the circumstances of unemployed young people. They may also inform decisions concerning vocational training, entrepreneurship support, career guidance, and the creation of productive employment opportunities.

Nasarawa State Government and local authorities: The research may assist relevant state and local authorities in identifying community-level challenges affecting unemployed youths. Its findings may inform the planning of targeted interventions, including skills acquisition programmes, youth enterprise support, community development initiatives, and partnerships with private employers.

Young people: The study may increase awareness of the social and economic consequences associated with prolonged unemployment and harmful behavioural choices. It may also highlight the importance of lawful livelihood opportunities, vocational development, constructive peer relationships, and participation in community-based programmes.

Community leaders and traditional institutions: The research may help community leaders understand how economic hardship and local social conditions may affect youth behaviour. The findings could support community-based prevention strategies, mentorship programmes, dialogue with young people, and collaboration with government agencies to improve employment access and social support.

Educational and vocational institutions: The study may help educational institutions, skills-development centres, and training providers understand the importance of aligning training programmes with available employment and enterprise opportunities. It may also encourage stronger career guidance and practical skills development for young people transitioning from education into work.

Security agencies and social welfare organisations: The findings may provide useful context for agencies concerned with community safety, crime prevention, rehabilitation, and youth welfare. By identifying potential socioeconomic risk factors, the study may support preventive approaches that combine appropriate law enforcement with social support, employment assistance, and community engagement.

Researchers and students: The study may contribute to the literature on unemployment, youth behaviour, and social problems in Nigeria. It may also serve as a reference for future research examining the relationship between economic exclusion, social strain, and youth involvement in harmful activities in Nasarawa State and other parts of the country.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on the influence of unemployment on youth involvement in social vices in selected communities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The particular communities will be identified and stated in the research methodology according to the study’s geographical coverage and sampling procedure.

In terms of content, the study examines the extent and nature of youth unemployment, the common forms of social vices reported in the selected communities, the socioeconomic and environmental factors that may influence youth behaviour, and the relationship between unemployment and involvement in social vices.

The study will focus on youths within the age range adopted for the research, using clearly stated inclusion criteria. Data will be collected from relevant respondents in the selected communities using appropriate research instruments. The study will not assume that unemployment inevitably causes social vices; rather, it will investigate the relationship between the variables and consider other relevant social and economic circumstances.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

The study may face limitations relating to time, financial resources, access to respondents, and the availability of reliable information. Some respondents may be unwilling to discuss unemployment or socially sensitive behaviours because of embarrassment, fear of being judged, or concerns about confidentiality. Others may provide socially desirable answers rather than describing their experiences accurately.

Another limitation concerns the difficulty of establishing a direct causal relationship between unemployment and social vices. Youth behaviour may be influenced by several factors, including family background, peer relationships, education, substance availability, poverty, and community conditions. Consequently, a relationship observed in the data will not necessarily prove that unemployment alone causes involvement in social vices.

The geographical scope of the study may also limit the extent to which its findings can be generalised to all communities in Nasarawa State or Nigeria. To address these limitations, the researcher will use appropriate sampling procedures, explain the purpose of the research to participants, protect the confidentiality of responses, and analyse the collected data systematically. The findings and conclusions will be interpreted within the limits of the study design and the evidence obtained.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Unemployment: A condition in which a person who is available for work and actively seeking employment is unable to obtain work, consistent with the applicable labour-force definition.

Youth: Young people within the age range specified by the study and its applicable policy and sampling criteria.

Youth unemployment: The condition in which young people who are available for work and actively seeking employment are unable to obtain employment.

Social vices: Behaviours that violate legal requirements or accepted social norms and may cause harm to individuals or communities. In this study, examples may include theft, fraud, drug misuse, violence, vandalism, and other specified forms of antisocial or criminal conduct.

Youth involvement in social vices: The participation or reported engagement of young people in behaviours defined as social vices within the scope of the study.

Socioeconomic factors: Economic and social circumstances, such as income, poverty, education, employment opportunities, and family resources, that may influence youth experiences and behaviour.

Peer influence: The effect of friends, age-mates, and social groups on an individual’s attitudes, decisions, and behaviour.

Youth empowerment: Programmes and opportunities designed to strengthen young people’s skills, knowledge, resources, and ability to pursue productive livelihoods and participate constructively in society.

Selected communities: The specific communities in Nasarawa State chosen for the study according to the researcher’s sampling criteria.

Project – Influence of Unemployment on Youth Involvement in Social Vices: A Case Study of Selected Communities in Nasarawa State.