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Unemployment is, generally, subdivided into frictional unemployment, the inevitable temporary unemployment of those moving from one job to another; cyclical unemployment, caused by a downswing in the business cycle; seasonal unemployment, in an area where there is high demand only during holiday periods, for example; and structural unemployment, where changing technology or other long-term change in the economy results in large numbers without work.
Many countries in the developing world suffer from severe unemployment and underemployment; the problem is made worse by rapid growth of population and lack of skills. In industrialized countries, the rise in world oil prices in the mid-1970s caused a downturn in economic activity, and greater use of high technology has improved output without the need for more jobs. There continues to be a great deal of youth unemployment despite government training and job creation schemes. In the USA the official unemployment rate was 5.1% in 1996 (6.8 million), but it is estimated that 20% to 25% of those who want employment cannot find any (and have never had a job or are out of work longer than unemployment compensation is paid, so are not counted by labour statisticians). In China, nearly a quarter of the urban labour force is unemployed.
Green represents fertility. Yellow stands for sunshine. Black recalls the people's African origins. Red symbolizes the struggle for liberty. Effective date: 19 September 1983.
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