Unemployment hits home-life

Press, 14 March 1978, Page 11

Unemployment hits home-life

Rising unemployment is taking its toll on the social and emotional stability of many families and persons, according to the national i president of the Association [of Social Workers (Mr M. O’Brien, of Christchurch). “In many' instances, unemployment, or the threat of unemployment, has resulted in tension within families increasing to the point where the marriage becomes intolerable and family life strained,” said Mr O’Brien.

The widespread unemployment had also seriously affected people w’hose employment opportunities were limited by their owm circumstances, particularly the physically, intellectually, and emotionally handicapped. Rehabilitation had been

I affected by the lack of adequate job opportunities, and the handicapped were often I the first to be dismissed, he •said. . “Unemployment has its l major impact on those who are the most vulnerable in the community and this is ■creating significant extra deimands of already overstretched resources of our isocial services.” I Mr O’Brien said the continuing lack of adequate i employment opportunities for young people would have important social consequences. “We will find ourselves with substantial groups of angry, dissatisfied young people whose frustration at not being able to secure employment could produce increased apathy, resentment, and hostility,” he said.