Youth unemployment and the risk of social relationship exclusion: a qualitative study in a Chinese context

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of unemployment on young people's social relationships. Based on data obtained from interviews with 19 unemployed young persons in Shanghai, China, the present study shows that unemployment diminishes their social contacts and results in their social networks being characterised by strong peer ties but emerging segregation from society. This in turn results in less effective social support. Accordingly, this paper argues that social policy for unemployed youth should aim at helping them build social networks and counter social relationship exclusion.

Keywords:

• youth unemployment
• social exclusion
• qualitative study

Acknowledgements

This paper is adapted from parts of the author's doctoral dissertation. The author would like to thank Professor Ngan-pun Ngai, Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, for his supervision. The author is also grateful for Miss Yuyu He's assistance in translation.