Lesson Plan

• Describe the basic economic problem as it applies to workers.
• Explain why labour scarcity leads to unemployment, skill mismatches, and wage determination.
• Analyse opportunity‑cost choices faced by workers using comparative examples.
• Interpret a labour‑market diagram to show how shifts in supply or demand affect the equilibrium wage.
• Evaluate how allocation of labour across sectors reflects trade‑offs.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Slide deck with labour‑market diagrams
• Handout containing the comparative table of worker choices
• Worksheets for opportunity‑cost calculations
• Markers and chart paper for group activity
• Sticky notes for exit ticket

Begin with a quick poll: “If you could choose between a part‑time job now or full‑time study, what would you pick?” Connect this to the previous lesson on scarcity. Today students will identify how scarcity creates trade‑offs for workers and will be able to illustrate these with diagrams and calculations.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Students write their poll choice on sticky notes and share briefly.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Recap scarcity, introduce the basic economic problem for workers, and present examples (unemployment, skill mismatch, wage determination).
3. Diagram activity (12’) – In groups, plot a labour‑market supply and demand diagram; discuss how a skill shortage shifts the demand curve.
4. Comparative table analysis (10’) – Work through the handout, calculate opportunity costs for each worker choice.
5. Guided practice (8’) – Solve a short problem using the wage‑equilibrium equation \(Q_D^L(w)=Q_S^L(w)\).
6. Check for understanding (5’) – Quick quiz (e.g., Kahoot) covering key concepts.
7. Summary & exit ticket (5’) – Each student writes one key trade‑off they learned on a sticky note.

Recap that workers face trade‑offs because labour is scarce, influencing employment, wages, and skill use. For the exit ticket, students record one example of an opportunity cost they could face. Homework: complete the worksheet on labour‑market equilibrium and bring a recent news article that illustrates a skill shortage.