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Youth Unemployment Challenges and Opportunities:the Case of Sierra Leone

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  • Molla Mekonnen Alemu

Abstract

Sierra Leone has gone through a ten-year civil conflict which brought considerable destruction, on the livelihoods of many. A good percentage of the population, before the war, was composed of young men and women who provided the labour force for activities on the farms. These youth (15-35 years of age) have undergone serious transformations as a result of the civil conflict. Most of them have got themselves completely disoriented. About 60% of the country¡¯s youth are believed to be structurally unemployed. The study was aimed at assessing the main causes of youth unemployment in Sierra Leone and to develop sustainable employment strategic principles which will enhance the management of youth employment opportunities in the country. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Different reports, policy papers and publications were also reviewed. Legacy of the civil war, mismatch between the demand and supply side of labour, weak entrepreneurship services, rural to urban migration, and low level of involvement in agriculture were among the identified factors that aggravated the youth unemployment rate in the country. The study has also identified strategic directions which could help policy and decision makers in their effort for the development of the youth of the country.

Suggested Citation

  • Molla Mekonnen Alemu, 2016. "Youth Unemployment Challenges and Opportunities:the Case of Sierra Leone," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 4(10), pages 16-28, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:rfa:journl:v:4:y:2016:i:10:p:16-28
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. International Labour Office., 2014. "Global employment trends 2014 : risk of a jobless recovery?," Global Employment Trends Reports 994846163402676, International Labour Office, Economic and Labour Market Analysis Department.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bangura, Kabba. S. & Lynch, Kenneth & Binns, Tony & Gbanie, Solomon, 2023. "Facing post-crisis livelihood challenges? Insights from young farmers in Kenema city, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Jackson, Emerson Abraham, 2023. "Economic anthropology insight: Narratives of livelihood exploration from fieldwork experience in Goderich-Sierra Leone," MPRA Paper 118575, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 0202.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    youth; unemployment; strategy; development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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