What drives education, career and migration aspirations of young people in Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria? 

Youth aspirations play a crucial role in shaping decisions about career objectives, pursuing a university degree and migrating to seek better opportunities, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where a rapidly growing young population faces significant obstacles to enter the workforce, such as cultural norms, economic constraints, and limited access to education and employment opportunities.

These challenges are exacerbated by an existing mismatch between the labour market and young people’s aspirations, often pushing them into the same economic activities their parents depend on, mostly agriculture and family businesses. This mismatch is particularly pronounced among young women, due to a lack of encouragement and role models. This reality stifles economic development across SSA and prevents youth from fulfilling their aspirations. 

The misalignment worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disruptions caused by lockdowns led to significant setbacks in education and job opportunities. As a result, young people’s educational trajectories, employment patterns and migration trends shifted in unexpected ways, diverging from their pre-pandemic aspirations. 

By exploring what drove youth aspirations during the pandemic, policymakers can design targeted and evidence-based interventions to reduce inequalities, tackle youth unemployment, and foster sustainable economic growth in the post-pandemic period. 
 

Bridging the gap      

However, comprehensive studies and data on youth aspirations are limited. To help address this gap, our team, the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS), the World Bank’s flagship household survey program, implemented a new youth aspirations module in the questionnaires administered as part of its High-Frequency Phone Surveys (HFPS) initiative. The module focused on youth aged 15 to 25 and was tested in 2020 in three countries in SSA: Ethiopia, Malawi and Nigeria.

Building on our previous research, What Do You Want to Be? Youth Aspirations in the Time of the COVID-19 Crisis, summarized in this blog, our new paper, Never Too Young to Dream Big: Measuring Youth Aspirations in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic, dives deeper into the dynamics of youth aspirations in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Nigeria, exploring how gender, family background, and age intersect to shape young people’s educational, employment, and migration goals. 

In this blog, we highlight the key findings of our research.  

1. Youth aspirations differ significantly between women and men

In Ethiopia and Nigeria, girls are less likely to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), often due to cultural norms and gender roles that prioritize domestic responsibilities. Early marriages and child labor also prevent girls from continuing their education, limiting their career aspirations. This also explains why, as female youth get older, their expectations tend to be lower than those of their male counterparts. Societal conventions also affect the possibility of migrating, with girls often discouraged from moving abroad.  

Figure A. Factors influencing career aspirations in STEM jobs

2. As youths get older and become more independent, their aspirations evolve

Those aged 18 to 24 are more likely to have higher educational and migration desires when compared to younger teens. In Ethiopia and Nigeria, older youth better understand the opportunities and are more likely to pursue higher education degrees or migrate to look for a job.

Figure B. Factors influencing educational aspirations

3. Education is a significant driver of youth aspirations

Those who complete primary and secondary school wish to continue their education and show interest in STEM degrees. This trend is most evident in Nigeria, where there is a growing recognition of the opportunities education offers. 

4. The age at which young people enter the labor market influences their aspirations

Those who start working before turning 14 years old have lower educational goals, as early work interferes with schooling. But those who find a job later - between the ages of 15 and 18 - are better equipped to balance work and education.  

5. The critical role of family background 

Those who come from households with higher education levels and financial stability are more likely to hope for the same. Family support, especially through financial assistance or remittances, also influences aspirations. In Nigeria, youth who receive monetary support from relatives abroad often feel less pressure to migrate. 

Figure C. Factors influencing migration aspirations

Understanding, addressing and aligning   

Drawing from these findings, our paper identifies measures that can contribute to the alignment of the labor market and the hopes of young people to mitigate youth unemployment and underemployment:  
 

1. Implementation of measures to help reduce male and female divide. Policies that promote exposure to diverse social networks and provide platforms for successful female leaders can inspire young women to set ambitious goals. Implementing school curricula and extracurricular activities that promote STEM subjects, especially for girls aged 15 to 18, can help spark interest in fields traditionally dominated by men. 
   
   

2. Interventions to reduce societal barriers in education can help address skills mismatches and promote equal access to the labor market. Policies may include cash transfers, micro-credit programs and early childhood interventions, particularly targeting youth from low- and middle-income households in rural areas. These initiatives enable young people to remain longer in school, helping to close the education gap that often widens between the ages of 23 and 25.  
   
   

3. Effective career guidance and counseling help to shape professional and educational goals that are realistic and aligned with the job market. The development of accessible and updated systems with information on education and employment opportunities allow young people to make informed decisions about their futures. Skills development is also a cost-effective measure to address educational gaps - countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have shown the success of after-school programs. 
    

By tackling structural and societal barriers that limit youth’s aspirations, policymakers can unlock the full potential of SSA’s young population, driving long-term economic growth and development across the region.  

Download the paper here: Never Too Young to Dream Big: Measuring Youth Aspirations in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic.