TACKLING UNEMPLOYMENT: A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE FOR SOCIOECONOMIC STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT

This paper analyzes unemployment as a critical socioeconomic challenge with deep and wide-ranging consequences beyond lost income. It explores how joblessness contributes to rising crime rates, mental health crises, social instability, and the erosion of family structures, positioning unemployment as both a cause and amplifier of societal problems.Drawing on comparative international examples, the study highlights the importance of coordinated policy responses, including financial assistance for the unemployed, targeted skills training, and inclusive economic planning. By addressing unemployment strategically, the paper argues, governments can strengthen social cohesion, reduce crime, and promote sustainable economic growth.