By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

Unemployment in Sierra Leone is more than just a statistic it is a ticking time bomb that continues to rob young people of their potential, purpose, and peace. While policymakers speak of development and economic recovery, the harsh reality for thousands of young Sierra Leoneans is that joblessness is slowly turning their hopes into despair.

Across Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Lungi and rural districts, one cannot miss the idle crowds of young men and women seated at street corners, engaging in petty trading, gambling, or doing absolutely nothing. Many are graduates from universities and technical institutions, yet they are unable to secure gainful employment. Some have never had the opportunity to work at all, and for those who do, underemployment and exploitative wages are the norm.

 The consequences are devastating

Psychologically, many young people are battling depression, anxiety, and a profound sense of hopelessness. The shame of being educated but dependent, ambitious but stagnant, is breaking spirits in silence. Some resort to drugs, alcohol, and crime not because they are criminals at heart, but because society has offered them no viable alternatives.

Economically, the country is losing out on the productivity of its most energetic and innovative population segment. Sierra Leone has a median age of just 19. That means most of our population is young, but youth unemployment stands painfully high. If we cannot engage them in nation-building through job creation and entrepreneurship support, then we are heading for a national tragedy.

Socially and politically, the impact is just as dangerous. Idle youth are easily manipulated by politicians during elections, by criminal networks, or by extremist ideologies. A frustrated youth population is a breeding ground for unrest. We have seen flashes of this in protests and riots over the years. Without intervention, these tensions could explode.

So, what can be done?

First, the government must move beyond rhetoric and make youth employment a top national priority. Vocational training centers must be revived and linked with real market demands. Education should not just produce job seekers, but job creators. The current curriculum must be restructured to include entrepreneurship, digital skills, and agricultural innovation.

Secondly, the private sector must be incentivized to absorb more young workers. This means tax breaks for businesses that hire young people, and microfinance schemes that support youth-led startups. Additionally, local councils must be empowered and resourced to develop employment projects tailored to their communities.

Lastly, our young people themselves must not give up. In every crisis lies an opportunity. While the system has failed many of them, those with skills in technology, agriculture, media, and creative arts can begin to carve paths where none existed.

Sierra Leone cannot afford to waste its youth. The time to act is now. If we continue to allow unemployment to fester, we are sowing the seeds of instability. But if we invest in our youth meaningfully, they will become the engine of growth and transformation our country so desperately needs.

The question is: will we rise to the occasion, or continue to ignore the warning signs?

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 30th June, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)