RESEARCH PAPER

Link between Social Exclusion & Unemployment in Ireland Context

Executive Summary

In today's highly competitive and global economy countries are identifying key measures to remain competitive and economically successful. Among several dimensions, one of the most significant dimensions is social aspects. Two key concerns related to social success or failure is unemployment and social exclusion. This paper focused on the link between unemployment and social exclusion in context of Ireland. Considering the objective of this research paper, the study analyzed key dimensions including unemployment and its prevalence in Ireland, social exclusion and its existence in Ireland, and Impact of both these factors. The results of research study revealed that unemployment can result in social exclusion of people exposed to it. On the other hand, it is also analyzed that socially excluded people can be exposed to unemployment. Hence, research study suggested that both the factors are inter-related and results in each other's exposure.

Acknowledgement

I am thankful to my teachers and parents for showing their support, encouragement, and love at every phase in my life. I am so grateful to my family and friends for motivating and supporting me to accomplish my goals. I convey my gratefulness to all my mentors and teachers who guided me throughout my research study and helped me compile it. My mentor has given me a lot of times in making me understand significant aspects of my research paper. This research paper has become a learning experience for me, as my teacher and mentor increased my knowledge at every stage of this research study.

Executive Summaryii

Acknowledgementiii

Introduction1

Research Topic2

Research Aims & Objectives2

Research Questions3

Significance of the Study3

Layout of the Research Study4

Literature Review5

Unemployment5

Social Exclusion6

Link between Unemployment and Social Exclusion8

Methodology11

Research Design11

Research Approach12

Types of Data12

Data Collection Method13

Limitations13

Results15

Analysis18

Conclusion19

Recommendations20

Bibliography21

Appendix23

Link between Social Exclusion & Unemployment in Ireland Context

Introduction

Ireland for a long time has had higher levels of unemployment as compared to Great Britain. In 2006, and even more so earlier years, the proportion of workless people in Ireland was at 21%, which is higher than Wales, Scotland, or any of other English regions. But this rate of unemployment recently declined in last three years and became lower than several states of England (Maclnnes et al, 2012, p.2-3). Therefore, it is clearly evident that Ireland is suffering the unemployment issue since many years; where, unemployment leads to manifold negative social and economic consequences. The longer and larger the unemployment, the deeper and more complex is the economic and social issues it causes in society. The prevalence of consistent long-term unemployment extracts a part out of the labour force and isolates it socially as well as economically (Beleva, 1997, p.29). Thus, one of the key results of unemployment (especially long-run) is “Social Exclusion”.

Social exclusion basically consists of multi-dimensional, dynamic process resulted due to unequal power relationships interacting across four major dimensions: social, political, economical, and cultural. It is driven by a continuum of exclusion or inclusion characterized by unequal access to resources, rights and capabilities that leads to health inequalities as well (WHO, 2013, ...