YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT, SKILLS MISMATCH AND POST-WAR LIVELIHOOD TRANSITIONS IN SIERRA LEONE: A CASE STUDY OF WATERLOO

Författare

  • Emmanuel Conteh Community Development Studies, Milton Margai Technical University, Sierra Leone
  • Kalie Marah Community Development Studies, Milton Margai Technical University, Sierra Leone

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v12i5.2328

Nyckelord:

youth unemployment, skills mismatch, employability skills, livelihood transitions, post-war Sierra Leone, PLS-SEM, Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

Abstract

Despite the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone 20 years ago, young people in peri-urban areas still suffer from high rates of labour underutilization, but there is little quantitative evidence that can explain how skills, skills fit and post-war structural conditions interact to influence young people's labour-market outcomes and livelihood adjustments. This study builds and tests a structural model that integrates Human Capital Theory, Skills Mismatch Theory and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, in which post-war structural constraints (PWC) influence skills mismatch (SM) and employability skills (ES), which in turn affect youth unemployment and underemployment (YU), and all four constructs are related to livelihood transitions (LT). The cross-sectional survey consisted of 250 young people (18–35 years) in Waterloo and was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM; 5,000 bootstrap subsamples). The reflective measurement model met all reliability and validity criteria (CR = 0.876–0.906; AVE = 0.586–0.660; all HTMT < 0.85). Skills mismatch (β = 0.411) and employability skills (β = −0.410) were the strongest and near-equal competing predictors of YU, with PWC having a direct effect (β = 0.205) and an indirect effect through SM and ES, which accounted for 49.5% of the variance in YU. Livelihood transitions were directly linked to SM (β = 0.312), ES (β = 0.330) and PWC (β = 0.206) but not to YU (β = 0.058, p =.454), suggesting that transitions are not directly tied to being jobless. The results suggest that policy should focus on training to meet local labour demand, and on the reconstruction of skills infrastructure and livelihood portfolios, not job placement.

 

JEL: J24; J64; O15; O55; I25

Författarbiografier

  • Emmanuel Conteh, Community Development Studies, Milton Margai Technical University, Sierra Leone

    Emmanuel Conteh, PhD (University of Reading, UK) in Livelihoods (Int. and Rural Development): sound knowledge in livelihoods and sustainable development, rural development, policy implementation and management, intellectual leadership and a comprehensive understanding of agriculture policies, strategies, institutions, and regulations; 10 years of professional working experience in rural development and food security projects. Strong knowledge of (agro-) economic policy issues facing transition economies and emerging markets; Experienced in developing alternative agricultural value chains, rural businesses, marketing and reorganization, including stand-by management.

  • Kalie Marah, Community Development Studies, Milton Margai Technical University, Sierra Leone

    Kalie Marah, I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Management, specializing in Finance, at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), following Bachelor’s degrees in Tourism Management from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) in Community Development Studies/Agriculture from Milton Margai Technical University. My academic and professional interests focus on finance, sustainable tourism, rural livelihoods, community development, agricultural development, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development. He has professional experience in teaching, examination administration, banking, community mobilization, advocacy, and community liaison activities in Sierra Leone. My research experience includes bibliometric systematic reviews and quantitative economic analysis, using Scopus, SmartPLS, RStudio (Bibliometrix), VOSviewer, and ARDL Bounds Testing. He has co-authored research on local politics and cultural practices in environmental anddisaster management and foreign direct investment and economic growth in Sierra Leone. He has also demonstrated leadership through various community and student- union positions, including President of the National Union of Koinadugu and Falaba Students.

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Nedladdningar

Publicerad

2026-10-19

Nummer

Vol 12 Nr 5 (2026)

Sektion

Articles