UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG EDUCATED WOMEN: A CASE

STUDY OF KANJIRAPPALY PANCHAYATH

Thushara. T
B.Ed student(social Science)
Mount Carmel college of Teacher education for women

ABSTRACT
The present article entitled 'unemployment among educated women: A case study of
kanjirappally panchayath ' is based on a survey carried out with the objective to examine the
nature and extent of unemployment among the educated women and to identify the
factors behind the high incidence of unemployment among educated women. A sample of
50 households has been selected at random from ward Vll of Kanjirappally
Gramapanchayath. The required data has been collected from the respondents using pre -
tested interview schedule. The findings of the study indicates that the higher percentage of
the respondents belongs to the age group of 25-30.Majority of the respondents have SSLC
level of education. Vast majority of the respondents are educationally unemployed.

INTRODUCTION

Man is the ends and means of all progress. Human resources are the most
valuable asset and its efficient utilization is a prerequisite for development. It means the
human resources are involved in productive activities. Technology also enhances the
productivity of the human resources. Partial or inefficient use of human capital adversely
affect the development. It implies unemployment. Full employment means productive
capacity of the human resources are fully utilized. So unemployment is a condition of
underutilization or inefficient utilization of human resources.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The majority of the educated unemployed persons, didn't choose their respective
course out of their preference or taste. There are so many push and pull factors behind this
phenomena. There are a lot of engineering graduates working as clerks or peons. Some are
willing to do any work. Others remaining unemployed. They are still job seekers.

The problem is that the number of workers is more than the number of jobs. This
problem haven't been addressed effectively so far. Obviously this state of affair arises due to
insufficiency or non-availability of work. Educated unemployed are facing various types of
stresses. So this problem invites great attention. The current system of education is very
defective and is confined within the classroom. Its main aim is to acquire qualifications only.
The present education system is not job oriented. It is degree oriented. There for the people
with higher education are unable to find any job. Here in this study, an attempt is made to
analyse the acute unemployment phenomenon among educated women in kanjirappally
panchayath.

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Kerala’s experiments in the education in general and higher education in particular have
witnessed tremendous expansion during the last few decades .Gender wise distribution of the
enrolment reveals that women constitute a significant portion of the formal education
segment of the state. This enabled the women to attain better education than men and
resulting in steady rise in the supply of educated female labour force in the state. But
unfortunately high educational attainments of women are not translated into gainful
employment opportunities for them. They are the most unemployed category in Kerala.
Therefore, a study into this burning issue of Kerala has become invertible.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 To examine the nature and extent of unemployment among the educated women in
kanjirappally panchayath.
 To indentify the factors behind the high incidence of unemployment among the
educated women.
 To study the educational status of unemployed women

METHODOLOGY
This study is both descriptive and analytical in nature. The study mad use of both
primary and secondary data. Asample of 50 households has been selected at random
from Kanjirappally Grama Panchayth. The required data has been collected from
the respondents using pre- tested interview schedule. The secondary data gathered
form related websites, journals, books, discussion and interaction with the officials.

TOOLS OF ANALYSIS
The data has been analysed by applying simple statistical techniques such as
averages, percentages .etc...

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

 Limited coverage as the study was being confined only 3 wards in Kanjirappally
Grama Panchayth.
  Time and money were the major constraints.
 Difficult to reach general conclusions when the sample is small.
 Some ofthe respondents wereunwilling to disclose their real issues

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

1.AGE COMPOSITION
The data pertaining to the age of the respondents reveals that the highest proportion of
respondents (40%)fall under the age group of 25-30 years. More than one –third of the
respondents (36%)are belonging to the age group of 30-35.

TABLE 1

CLASSIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF AGE

Age Group No.of Respondents Percentage

20-25 5 10
25-30 20 40
30-35 18 36
Above 35 7 14
Total 50 100

FIGURE :1

CLASSIFICATION OF THE RESPONDENTS ON THE BASIS OF AGE

120

100

80

60 NO:OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
40

20

0
20-25 25-30 30-35 ABOVE 35 TOTAL

2. CASTE COMPOSITON OF THE RESPONDENTS

A majority of the respondents belong to the general category with 52%.second majority
belongs to OBC category about 24%.unemployed women belong to SC/ST categories were
16% and 8% respectively.

TABLE :2

CASTE COMPOSITION OF THE RESPONDENTS

Caste No. of Respondents Percentage

General 26 52
OBC 12 24
SC 8 16
ST 4 8
Total 50 100

FIGURE :2

CASTE COMPOSITION OF THE RESPONDENTS

150
Chart Title
100

50

0
GENERAL OBC SC ST TOTAL
NUMBER OF
26 12 8 4 50
RESPONDENTS
NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE 52 24 16 8 100

3. MARITAL STATUS
On the basis of marital status, the respondents are classified into two: married and unmarried.
Out of the 50 respondents, vastmajority of them are married.(82%). 18% are fall under the
unmarried category.

TABLE 3

MARITAL STATUS OF THE RESPONDENTS

Marital Status No. of Women Percentage

Married 41 82
Un Married 9 18
Total 50 100
 FIGURE 3

MARITAL STATUS OF THE RESPONDENTS

160
140
120
100
80 PERCENTAGE
60 NO:OF WOMEN
40
20
0
MARRIED UNMARRIED TOTAL

4: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF THE RESPONDENTS

The highest proportion of the respondents (40%)has SSLC level of education. Graduates and
Post –Graduates are reported to be very low with 12 percent and 8 percent respectively.

TABLE :4

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF RESPONDENTS

Educational Attainment No. Of Respondents Percentage

SSLC 20 40
Higher secondary 10 20
Graduate 6 12
Post graduate 4 8
Others 10 20
Total 50 100

FIGURE 4

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF RESPONDENTS

120
100
80
60
40 NO: OF RESPONDENTS
20
0
NO: OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
A large majority of the respondents (60%) are unemployed.12 % of the
respondents are private employees and only 8% of them are government
employees.

TABLE 5

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF THE RESPONDENTS

Employment No.of women Percentage

Govt. Employee 4 8
Private Employee 6 12
Unemployed 40 80
Total 50 100

FIGURE :5

EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF THE RESPONDENTS

120

100

80

60 NO:OF WOMEN

40 PERCENTAGE

20

0
Government Private Unemployed total
Employee Employee
FINDINGS
 The study shows that higher percentage of the respondents (40%) belongs to the age
group of 25-30.
 The study also points out that 82% of the women respondents are married and
remaining 18% are unmarried.
 The majority of the respondents (40%) have SSLC level of education. The
respondents with Plus Two and above level of education are reported to be 10% and
(20%) respectively.
 From the study, we can see that out of the 50 respondents, only 20% of them are
employed and 80% are remaining unemployed.

CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of the survey ,it can be seen that unemployment among the educated
women is high in the sample area surveyed.Out of the 50 respondentd 20% of them are
employed and the remaining 80%of them are remaining unemployed.This shows an
increasing trend of educated unemployment among females,not only in Kanjirappally Grama
Panchayat ,but also in Kerala as a whole .It is particularly a youth problem. It involves a high
social cost and a huge waste of human resources.The unemployed women do not make
adequate attempt for self employment.

Women are the centre point f a family as well as a society.She can contribute to the family
income as well as the national income as a whole,but the high rate of educated unemployment
will adversely affect our economic development and growth.Educated unemployment of
women cause a wastage of human resources or the wastage of efficient and productive
resources.By providing adequate facilities for removing the problem of educated
unemployment among women,we can make use of the productive human resources more
effectively.

The survey also reveals the educated unemployment among females are higher than that of
educated males.The defects of present system of education is the major cause of increasing
the problem of educated unemployment both among females and males.
 QUESTIONNAIRE.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Name :

2. Religion :

3. Caste :

4. Marital status :

5. Poverty status :

6. Details of family members

Name Relation Age Sex Education Occupation Monthly

Income

7. Total monthly income of the family

8. Details of educational qualification :

9. Which job would you prefer?

Nearby House White Collar jobs self-employment

Govt.jobs private sector

10. Expected monthly salary:

11. Present employment status:

Agriculture Own business Govt.Sector

private sector

12. Income per month :

13. If you employed ,specify reasons: Cannot find a suitable job

Lack of family support Upbringing of children

Lack of interest Others (specify)

14. Are you registered in employment exchange :

Yes No
15. If yes, in which year?

16. Do you regularly update your details with employment exchange?

Yes No

17. Have you explored the possibility of self employment?

Yes No

a) If yes ,specify the nature of self-employment

Paultry farming dairy farming rubber slaughtering

Tailoring others

b) Income per month

c) Did you get any government support for self employment:

Yes No

d) If yes. Specify

e) Is it profitable or not?

f) If not profitable, specify reasons?

18. Are you beneficiary of the unemployment compensation scheme?

Yes No

a) If yes give details:

b) Do you get it regularly?

Yes No

c) Is any time log in getting the financial assistance

Yes No

19. Are you willing to move out to abroad (migrate),if jobs are available ?

Yes No

If yes, specify reason:

20. What is your opinion regarding the impact of unemployment on family?

21. What are the problem faced by you, as a result of educational unemployment?

22. Suggestions for improving the job opportunities generated by government or other

agencies?