WAEC 2023 Economics · Question 15

When job vacancies are publicized, the government is mainly trying to solve the problem of

Options

  1. A.residual unemployment
  2. B.cyclical unemployment
  3. C.technological unemployment
  4. D.frictional unemployment

Answer: D. frictional unemployment

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which type of unemployment is reduced when job vacancies are publicized (advertised). Publicizing vacancies is about giving information to job seekers and employers.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

  • Frictional unemployment: Arises from the time lag or lack of information as workers move between jobs or search for suitable ones. Jobs exist and workers exist, but they have not yet been matched.
  • Cyclical unemployment: Caused by a downturn (recession or depression) in the economy, leading to low demand and job losses. Advertising vacancies cannot fix this because there are few vacancies.
  • Technological unemployment: Caused by machines replacing workers. It needs retraining, not publicity.
  • Residual unemployment: Affects people who are unemployable due to physical or mental disabilities or old age.

Step 3: Apply the concepts When the government publicizes vacancies (for example, through job centres, the National Directorate of Employment, newspapers, or online portals), job seekers learn quickly where jobs are available. This shortens the search period and the mismatch caused by poor information. That is exactly the problem of frictional unemployment.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. frictional unemployment.

Tip: Link keywords to the type of unemployment:

  • Information, job search, between jobs → Frictional
  • Recession, low demand → Cyclical
  • Machines, automation → Technological
  • Disability, old age → Residual

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