The book consists of two parts. In the first part, the author shows presents classical and contemporary theories of social problems. The focus is on social constructionism as one of the leading theoretical perspective in sociology of social problem. The working relation between basic and applied sociology and sociology and social work are summarized. The second part highlights the problem of unemployment in Poland. This part combines theoretical and empirical approaches to the crisis of labor market in 1999-2004. It describes in detail causes, conditions, consequences and solutions to “the most important problem facing the country” in the period before the accession to the European Union.