The main purpose of the study was to explore the causes and effects of
unemployment and the impact this has on development. The study was significant as
it was assisting in identifying the unemployed in Tshiheni village. Furthermore the
study highlighted various factors that conspires development at the village i.e. the
causes of unemployment. The study also revealed the psychological, health and
socio-economic challenges faced by the unemployed at the village. It further
communicated possible strategies in which the un-employed can make a living. The
study is qualitative in nature and a thirty percent systematic random sampling was
drawn from the population. An interview schedule was used to collect data from the
seventy respondents and it is included here as appendix A. The findings of the
research were that the majority of the unemployed were aged between twenty-one
and thirty years, females being the most vulnerable. Unemployment was mainly
caused by non-availability of jobs, followed by retrenchments and then lack of skills.
Majority of respondents reported viewing themselves negatively. Half of the
respondents believe that abusing drugs would help them deal with the situation.
Unemployment has a negative effect on social relationships. Majority of the
unemployed are not self-employed, but rely on families and child grants for support.