The growth of unemployment or, stated more generally, increasing complexity in the labour market, gave rise to a number of social problems. Part of the population experienced a fall in its living standards, its health deteriorated, (as shown by studies conducted by J. Uibu), the incidence of crime increased, as did drug addiction, and there were more suicides.
Tööpuuduse kasv, laiemalt aga olukorra komplitseerumine tööturul tõi kaasa mitmeid sotsiaalseid probleeme — ühe osa elanikkonna elatustaseme languse, rahva tervisliku seisundi halvenemise (vastavalt J. Uibu uuringutele), kuritegevuse kasvu, narkomaania leviku, aga ka enesetappude hulga suurenemise.