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Paper short abstract

Youth un- and underemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This research explores the factors that shape young people'ability to choose own career paths, despite challenging circumstances and to adapt to structural changes in the labour market.

Paper long abstract

Youth un- and underemployment remains one of the most pressing challenges, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, the world’s youngest region. The rapid rise of digital technologies and AI adds new complexity to our discussion on youth labour market participation. While there is an extensive body of literature examining the economic and social factors contributing to youth un- and underemployment in the region, less is known about how young people in Sub-Saharan Africa perceive their employment opportunities and their “work volition” - ability to choose own career paths, despite challenging circumstances. At the same time, studies from other regions suggest that these perceptions are crucial for understanding of young people´s career adaptability and their ability to navigate shifting labour markets.

This study seeks to address this research gap by examining work volition among young people living in urban centres of Sierra Leone. It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining 33 qualitative interviews with a structured survey (n=1502), conducted between September 2024 and April 2025. This research explores the factors that shape young people's work volition and their ability to adapt to structural changes in the labour market. It highlights the importance of both individual and socio-economic factors, providing a critical analysis of the structural inequalities that persist within the labour market. The study explores how age, ethnicity, educational background, gender, and employment status intersect, shaping young people's experiences in the changing labour markets.