Social Work Approaches to Addressing Unemployment Among Youths in Owerri, Imo State

Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing social challenges confronting Nigeria in the current decade, with attendant consequences for social stability and individual wellbeing. This study examines social work approaches to addressing unemployment among youths in Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, 110 unemployed youths and social workers from government employment agencies and NGOs in Owerri Municipal are sampled, with data collected via structured questionnaires. Data are analysed using frequencies and chi-square tests. Findings indicate that inadequate vocational training, skills mismatch, and limited access to start-up capital are the primary barriers to employment among surveyed youths. Social work interventions currently employed include career counselling, skills training facilitation, and referrals to government empowerment schemes. However, the limited institutional capacity of social work agencies, combined with poor collaboration with the private sector, reduces the impact of these interventions. The study also finds that social media and technology-related skills are largely absent from current vocational training programmes despite their growing relevance to youth employment. Recommendations include redesigning social work employment programmes to incorporate digital skills, strengthening public-private partnerships for youth absorption, and deploying social workers as career counsellors in tertiary institutions. Keywords: youth unemployment, social work, vocational training, Owerri, empowerment