Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Journal of Educational and Social Research

Publication Date

5-1-2025

Abstract

Unemployment remains a critical socio-economic challenge with profound implications for individual wellbeing. This study examines the self-perceived barriers to employment and their impact on key well-being determinants, including life satisfaction, happiness, mental health (where higher scores indicate worse outcomes), subjective health, family relations, friend relations, and the ability to make ends meet (ATMEM), among unemployed individuals in Abu Dhabi. Using data from a comprehensive survey (QoL-5), the analysis reveals significant differences in well-being outcomes across demographic factors such as gender, age, education level, and head of household status. Notably, barriers such as lack of social networks, job competition, and education-related challenges emerged as the most impactful, with "Lack of social network" strongly associated with worse mental health and lower social connections. Heads of households and mid-life respondents experienced greater vulnerabilities, reporting poorer mental health and financial strain. Conversely, younger and non-head respondents exhibited better mental well-being and stronger social relationships. These findings highlight the complex interplay between self-perceived barriers, demographic factors, and well-being dimensions. The study underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address unemployment's psychological and social challenges and foster a more inclusive labor market in Abu Dhabi.

ISSN

2239-978X

Volume

15

Issue

3

First Page

91

Last Page

107

Disciplines

Business

Keywords

Abu Dhabi, Life satisfaction, Mental health, Unemployment, Unemployment barriers, Well-being

Scopus ID

05005887208

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series

Included in

Business Commons

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