Effect of Unemployment on the Level of Criminality in Enugu State

Abstract

The study examined effect of unemployment on the level of criminality in Enugu State. Unemployment can be defined as the number of people in the labour force who are without job, but are actively seeking for employment, including those who have lost their jobs and those who have willingly left their occupations. The study adopted relative deprivations theory by Robert K. Merton in 1950.The study adopted a descriptive type of survey design. The study revealed that unemployment had a negative significant contribution to the rate of drug abuse among youths in Engu State, that unemployment has a negative significant contribution to the rate of armed robbery cases in Enugu State, that unemployment does significantly contributed to the rate of cybercrime in Enugu State, and that unemployment does significantly contribute to the rate of armed banditry (incidences of unknown gunmen) in Enugu State. The study concluded that unemployment contributed to the rate of criminality in Enugu State, Nigeria because many Nigerians cannot meet the basic needs of life because they have no jobs. Youth unemployment and its relationship with attendant crime are part of major social problems affecting the growth and development of this country. The study recommended among others that to reduce unemployment and its attendant consequences such as drug abuse in Enugu State, entrepreneurship education should be incorporated into the curricula of secondary and tertiary schools. Doing this will also turn the graduates into job creators and not job-seekers. This will help to curb the trend of graduates seeking the elusive white-collar jobs.