Unemployment as a category of sociological science
Research Article
How to Cite
Stephen E.S. Unemployment as a category of sociological science. Humanities of the South of Russia. 2025. Vol. 14. No. 4. P. 38-48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2025.4.3 (in Russ.).
Abstract
Objective of the study to analyze the unemployment and its social causes forms of manifestation, consequences and mechanisms of adaptation of individuals and social groups to the state of unemployment.
Methodological basis of the study. The author uses both quantitative (large-scale surveys, statistical data analysis) and qualitative methods (in-depth interviews, focus groups) to study the subjective experience of unemployment, the social connections of the unemployed, as well as the impact of macrosocial processes on the individual employment trajectories. The theoretical basis is represented by such sociological paradigms as functionalism, conflictology and symbolic interactionism.
Results of the study. The analysis makes it possible to draw a number of key conclusions about the social nature of unemployment and its consequences:
1) Unemployment is not only an economic, but also a social phenomenon that affects the identity of a person, the level of social integration and the structure of social relations. It promotes marginalization, the breakdown of social ties, and loss of self-esteem.
2) The social consequences of unemployment are systemic: there is an increase in the level of depression, suicide, crime and social exclusion. Young people, the elderly, representatives of ethnic minorities and low-skilled workers remain vulnerable groups.
3) Sociological theories (Marxism, functionalism, anomie theory, etc.) provide different but complementary explanations of the causes and consequences of unemployment. The concept of a "reserve army of labor" is becoming particularly relevant, emphasizing the embeddedness of unemployment in the market economy.
Prospects of the study. This work can help to develop adaptive and equitable mechanisms for regulating refugee employment. Further research will help to find out how technological changes are transforming the labor market, which professions are disappearing and which are emerging, and who is left out of these transformations.
Keywords:
unemployment, social consequences of unemployment, labor market, adaptation to unemployment, social inequality and unemployment, psychological effects of unemployment, vulnerable groups of unemployed
References
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Toffler A. Previews and Premises: An Interview with the Author of “Future Shock” and “Third Wave”. New York: Morrow. 1983: 42-44.
Bauman Z. Globalization. Consequences for man and society. Trans. from English by M. L. Korobochkin. Moskva: Ves' Mir = Moscow: Whole World. 2004; 185 p. ISBN 5-7777-0303-8. (In Russ.)
Breev B. D. Unemployment in modern Russia: monograph. Moskva: Nauka = Moscow: Science. 2005; 271 p. ISBN 5-02-033411-1. (In Russ.)
Dudina O. M., Arselgova M. A. Social and economic consequences of unemployment. Ekonomika truda = Labor Economics. 2019; 6 (2): 923-940. DOI 10.18334/et.6.2.40810. (In Russ.)
Durkheim E. Suicide: A Sociological Study. Transl., from French with abbreviation; Ed. by V. A. Bazarov. Moskva: Mysl' = Moscow: Thought. 1998; 492 p. ISBN 5-87852-063-X. (In Russ.)
Karabchuk T. S. Precarious Employment and Social Stratification. Sotsiologicheskiy zhurnal = Sociological Journal. 2009; 3: 55-78. (In Russ.)
Kostina E. Yu., Orlova N. A., Panfilova A. O. The state of the value system as a factor of anomie in modern Russian society. Vestnik Rossiyskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Sotsiologiya = Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Sociology. 2018; 18 (4): 719-730. DOI 10.22363/2313-2272-2018-18-4-719-730. (In Russ.)
Kostyrya A. Unemployment and its regulation. Moskva: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing = Moscow: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 2012; 336 p. ISBN 9-78384-8411-047. (In Russ.)
Makarchenkova M. Yu. Unemployment. Causes of unemployment. Consequences of unemployment. Potentsial sovremennoy nauki = Potential of modern science. 2014; 7: 49-51. (In Russ.)
Merton R. K. Social theory and social structure. Translated from English by E. N. Egorova et al. Moskva: AST: Khranitel = Moscow: AST: Guardian. 2006; 873 p. ISBN 5-17-029089-6. (In Russ.)
Petunova S. A. The influence of unemployed status on the psychoemotional well-being of the individual. Vestnik psikhiatrii i psikhologii Chuvashii = Bulletin of Psychiatry and Psychology of Chuvashia. 2007; 3: 59-73. (In Russ.)
Stiglitz J. E. Globalization: alarming trends. Trans. from English by G. G. Pirogov. Moskva: Natsional'nyy obshchestvenno-nauchnyy fond = Moscow: National Social Science Foundation. 2003; 302 p. ISBN 5-244-01031-X. (In Russ.)
Talaeva A. S., Galina A. E. Unemployment and the reasons for its occurrence. Teoriya i praktika sovremennoy nauki = Theory and practice of modern science. 2018; 12(42): 428-430. (In Russ.)
Pavlova S. A., Kindruk S. M., Chibisova A. M. et al. The unemployment as a factor of social strain. International Research Journal. 2019; 4-2 (82): 133-139. DOI 10.23670/IRJ.2019.82.4.056.
Toffler A. Previews and Premises: An Interview with the Author of “Future Shock” and “Third Wave”. New York: Morrow. 1983: 42-44.
Article
Received: 05.06.2025
Accepted: 27.08.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Stephen, E. S. (2025). Unemployment as a category of sociological science. Humanities of the South of Russia, 14(4), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2025.4.3
Section
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN MODERN SOCIETY
