Społeczny wymiar bezrobocia w Polsce i jego konsekwencje dla rodzin

Economic and political changes which took place in Poland at the beginning of 90s had a considerable influences on the Polish labour market. The unemployment was one of the many negative results. This phenomenon was a new and unfamiliar situation for majority of Polish society. The socialist society was free from the problem of unemployment. The situation changed dramatically at the beginning of 1990s, when the unemployment was increasing very fast. There are many types of unemployment, the worst of which is a long-term unemployment with its negative consequences for a given family. The consequences of unemployment are not only economic, but also social. It affects the realization of the basic functions of families. The lack of work influences the life of families, disturbing their functioning. As a result, there is a growing number of poor families and even chronic poverty. Therefore, the unemployment is defined as a present social matter, witch requires some solutions. The fundamental aim of this article is to discuss the social structure of Polish unemployment as well as the influence of the unemployment on the situation of Polish families. The issue was presented from the perspective of political and economic transformations occurring in Poland after 1989 and their influence on the shape of the labour market in Poland. The first part of the article deals with the problem – of the causes and the level the unemployment. The second part presents the social structure of Polish unemployment. The next part of the article discusses the implications of the unemployment for families, whereas in the last part there will be presented the governmental forms of supporting families and activating the unemployed.