Economic downturns and their impact on employment have been recurring themes in IELTS Writing Task 2. This topic combines elements of economics, social policy, and government intervention, making it a complex and engaging subject for test-takers. Based on past trends, we can expect questions related to unemployment during economic crises to appear frequently in future IELTS exams. Let’s explore a relevant question that has appeared in recent tests:

Some people think that in order to solve unemployment, governments should focus on innovation and creating new industries, while others believe that funding should be used to save existing jobs. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Analyzing the Question

This question addresses two contrasting approaches to tackling unemployment:

1. Focusing on innovation and creating new industries
2. Using funding to save existing jobs

The task requires you to:

• Discuss both viewpoints
• Provide your own opinion

It’s crucial to address all parts of the question and provide a balanced argument before stating your position.

Sample Essay for Band 8-9

Here’s a high-scoring sample essay that effectively addresses the question:

In times of economic hardship, governments often grapple with the challenge of reducing unemployment. While some advocate for investing in innovation and new industries, others argue for protecting existing jobs. This essay will examine both perspectives before offering a personal viewpoint.

Proponents of focusing on innovation and new industries argue that this approach can create sustainable, long-term employment opportunities. By investing in emerging sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, or biotechnology, governments can position their economies for future growth and competitiveness. This strategy can lead to the development of high-skilled jobs that are less likely to be outsourced or automated. Moreover, fostering innovation can have spillover effects, stimulating growth in related industries and creating a more dynamic economy overall.

On the other hand, those who support saving existing jobs contend that this approach provides immediate relief to workers and communities affected by economic downturns. By offering financial support or incentives to struggling industries, governments can prevent mass layoffs and the social problems that often accompany high unemployment. This strategy can help maintain economic stability and consumer confidence, which are crucial for economic recovery. Additionally, preserving existing jobs can be more cost-effective in the short term than creating entirely new industries from scratch.

In my opinion, a balanced approach that combines elements of both strategies is most effective. While it is essential to protect some existing jobs to mitigate the immediate impact of economic downturns, governments should also allocate resources to foster innovation and support emerging industries. This dual approach can provide short-term stability while laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth and resilience.

In conclusion, addressing unemployment during economic downturns requires a nuanced strategy that considers both immediate needs and future prospects. By balancing support for existing jobs with investments in innovation, governments can create a more robust and adaptable economy capable of weathering future economic challenges.

(Word count: 309)

Unemployment Solutions

Sample Essay for Band 6-7

Here’s a sample essay that would typically score in the Band 6-7 range:

Unemployment is a big problem during economic downturns. Some people think governments should focus on new industries and innovation to solve this, while others believe in saving existing jobs. I will discuss both views and give my opinion.

Firstly, focusing on innovation and new industries can create new jobs. For example, investing in technology or green energy can lead to new job opportunities. This can help the economy grow in the long term and prepare for the future. Also, new industries might create better-paying jobs that are more stable.

On the other hand, saving existing jobs can help people immediately. If the government gives money to companies that are struggling, it can stop them from firing workers. This can help families keep their income and prevent social problems. It’s also easier to save existing jobs than to create completely new ones.

In my opinion, I think governments should do both. They should try to save some existing jobs to help people now, but also invest in new industries for the future. This way, they can solve short-term problems and prepare for long-term growth.

To conclude, both approaches have their advantages. A mix of saving current jobs and creating new ones through innovation is probably the best way to reduce unemployment during economic downturns.

(Word count: 218)

Key Points to Note When Writing

1. Structure: Both essays follow a clear structure with an introduction, body paragraphs discussing each viewpoint, the writer’s opinion, and a conclusion. The Band 8-9 essay has more sophisticated paragraph transitions and a more nuanced conclusion.

2. Language: The Band 8-9 essay uses more advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures. For example, “grapple with the challenge” and “foster innovation” demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency compared to the simpler language in the Band 6-7 essay.

3. Development of Ideas: The higher-scoring essay provides more detailed explanations and examples to support each point. It also shows a deeper understanding of the economic concepts involved.

4. Coherence and Cohesion: The Band 8-9 essay uses a wider range of linking words and phrases to connect ideas smoothly, such as “Moreover” and “Additionally”. The Band 6-7 essay relies more on simpler connectors like “Firstly” and “Also”.

5. Task Response: Both essays address all parts of the question, but the Band 8-9 essay does so with greater depth and precision.

Vocabulary to Remember

1. Economic downturn (noun) /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdaʊntɜːn/ – a period of reduced economic activity
2. Unemployment (noun) /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ – the state of being without a paid job
3. Innovation (noun) /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/ – the introduction of new ideas or methods
4. Sustainable (adjective) /səˈsteɪnəbl/ – able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
5. Competitiveness (noun) /kəmˈpetətɪvnəs/ – the quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature
6. Spillover effect (noun) /ˈspɪləʊvər ɪˌfekt/ – the indirect effect that seemingly unrelated events in one situation can have on another situation
7. Incentive (noun) /ɪnˈsentɪv/ – a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something
8. Resilience (noun) /rɪˈzɪliəns/ – the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties
9. Nuanced (adjective) /ˈnjuːɑːnst/ – characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
10. Mitigate (verb) /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ – make (something bad) less severe, serious, or painful

Conclusion

The topic of reducing unemployment during economic downturns is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 questions. It may appear in various forms, such as discussing the role of government in job creation, comparing different strategies for economic recovery, or exploring the impact of technological advancements on employment.

To prepare for such questions, practice writing essays on related topics like:

• The impact of automation on employment
• The role of education in reducing unemployment
• Government policies for supporting small businesses during economic crises
• The effectiveness of retraining programs for unemployed workers

Remember to structure your essays clearly, use a range of vocabulary and complex sentence structures, and provide well-developed arguments supported by relevant examples. Feel free to practice by writing your own essay on the topic discussed in this article and share it in the comments section for feedback and discussion.