Topic 11: Unemployment

Unemployment encompasses many consequences. Some jobs are affected more than others. Jobs that are more resistant to unemployment would be jobs which are necessary to the survival of a society. This includes farmers part of a non-basic, local economy, who produce the food needed to the local people. Without these people, there would be no food. Another example could be doctors with degrees. These people still need to be present in the society. Thus, people working on the necessities would be least likely to get fired. Also, people in government-provided programs would also be protected. For example, people working on infrastructural projects. These people are employed by the government to get the economy circulating. Thus, instead of firing people from this field, the government would be employing more, to combat economic downturns. People in the army also probably wouldn’t get fired. They are necessary to the defense of a country (unless you are Costa Rica), and is also government-sponsored in most countries.

Jobs that are less resistant include jobs that are for leisurely purposes. For example, less people would be willing to go to spas or massages if the economy was bad. Thus, these people would most likely get laid-off. This is due to people trying to cut expenses. Luxury goods production and production of more high-end products are therefore also affected. For example, people would be less likely to buy cars, and would be more willing to want to fix a car instead of buy a new one. Also, people in the service sector would be affected to. People would rather tend to themselves to save costs, than have other people do it for them, and pay that extra expense.

I have two career paths. The first is a psychologist. Although one may assume that psychology consulting sessions are a luxury, because they are quite expensive, this may not be the case. Clinical psychologists are probably especially important during this economic downturn. People get depressed from the bad economy, and many may require professional help. My second career choice is to work in the government. I’d like to work in the international government. The flow and functioning of the international community is quite essential to world leaders, so the presence of such important officials are probably quite stable. When picking these two career paths, I did not think much about the problem of unemployment. Mainly, I thought about the salary I would earn. But mostly, I’d choose these two paths because I enjoy studying the two subjects.