Title: Youth Unemployment and Its Socio-Economic Implications for Crime in Taraba State, Nigeria
Authors: Yayaha Garba Saleh (Ph.D), Ali Usman Danwanzam, Auwal Inuwa Usman
Volume: 9
Issue: 10
Pages: 226-233
Publication Date: 2025/10/28
Abstract:
This study investigated the socio-economic implications of youth unemployment for crime in Taraba State, Nigeria. The rising unemployment rate among young people has become a serious socio-economic and security concern across Nigeria, undermining economic productivity and increasing crime rates in both rural and urban areas. Despite several governmental efforts, including the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), N-Power, and Youth Empowerment Schemes, youth joblessness remains a persistent challenge in Taraba State. The study aimed to examine the relationship between youth unemployment and criminal activities, assess its socio-economic consequences on community life, and identify existing strategies to curb the problem. Anchored on the Social Disorganization Theory and Human Capital Theory, the study employed a descriptive survey design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A sample of 400 respondents was drawn from six local government areas using multi-stage sampling. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (linear regression) via SPSS version 25. Results revealed a strong positive and statistically significant relationship between youth unemployment and crime (Rē = 0.507; p < 0.05), indicating that about 50.7% of the variance in criminal behaviour is explained by unemployment. Qualitative data corroborated that jobless youths are often recruited for political thuggery, theft, cultism, and kidnapping. The study concludes that unemployment is not only an economic issue but also a fundamental social and moral problem that drives crime and insecurity. It recommends skill acquisition, entrepreneurship development, and community-based youth engagement programmes to mitigate unemployment and promote sustainable peace in Taraba State.