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Sierra Leone · Employment & wages

Unemployment, participation, employment, youth, wages and hours.

19 indicators · 12 with data

Unemployment

Unemployment

% of labour force

46th of 185 · 16th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UnemploymentSierra Leone's unemployment fell from 4.3 % in 1996 to 3.2 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020253%3%4%4%5%5%3.2 %

Sierra Leone's unemployment fell from 4.3 % in 1996 to 3.2 % in 2025.

Youth unemployment

% of labour force ages 15–24

15th of 183 · 10th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Youth unemploymentSierra Leone's youth unemployment fell from 7.8 % in 1996 to 3.7 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%2%4%6%8%10%3.7 %

Sierra Leone's youth unemployment fell from 7.8 % in 1996 to 3.7 % in 2025.

Participation

Participation

% of population ages 15+

144th of 182 · 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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ParticipationSierra Leone's participation fell from 64.5 % in 1996 to 53.4 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%65%70%53.4 %

Sierra Leone's participation fell from 64.5 % in 1996 to 53.4 % in 2025.

Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)

% of female population ages 15+

107th of 182 · 31st in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+)Sierra Leone's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 64.9 % in 1996 to 51.6 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%65%70%51.6 %

Sierra Leone's labour force participation rate, female (ages 15+) fell from 64.9 % in 1996 to 51.6 % in 2025.

Employment

Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)

% of population ages 15+

131st of 182 · 33rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment to population ratio (ages 15+)Sierra Leone's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 61.7 % in 1996 to 51.7 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202550%55%60%65%70%51.7 %

Sierra Leone's employment to population ratio (ages 15+) fell from 61.7 % in 1996 to 51.7 % in 2025.

Labour force, total

people

108th of 182 · 28th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Labour force, totalSierra Leone's labour force, total rose from 1.53M in 1996 to 2.93M in 2025.2000200520102015202020251M1.5M2M2.5M3M3.5M2.93M

Sierra Leone's labour force, total rose from 1.53M in 1996 to 2.93M in 2025.

Self-employed (% of total employment)

% of employment

3rd of 182 · 3rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Self-employed (% of total employment)Sierra Leone's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 92.8 % in 1996 to 88.8 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202588%90%92%94%88.8 %

Sierra Leone's self-employed (% of total employment) fell from 92.8 % in 1996 to 88.8 % in 2025.

Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)

% of employment

181st of 182 · 44th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)Sierra Leone's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 90.2 % in 1996 to 86.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202586%88%90%86.0 %

Sierra Leone's vulnerable employment (% of total employment) fell from 90.2 % in 1996 to 86.0 % in 2025.

Structure

Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)

% of employment

31st of 182 · 23rd in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in agriculture (% of total employment)Sierra Leone's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 66.1 % in 1996 to 44.5 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202540%50%60%70%44.5 %

Sierra Leone's employment in agriculture (% of total employment) fell from 66.1 % in 1996 to 44.5 % in 2025.

Employment in industry (% of total employment)

% of employment

156th of 182 · 29th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in industry (% of total employment)Sierra Leone's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 7.7 % in 1996 to 11.5 % in 2025.2000200520102015202020250%2%4%6%8%10%12%11.5 %

Sierra Leone's employment in industry (% of total employment) rose from 7.7 % in 1996 to 11.5 % in 2025.

Employment in services (% of total employment)

% of employment

145th of 182 · 20th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Employment in services (% of total employment)Sierra Leone's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 26.2 % in 1996 to 44.0 % in 2025.20002005201020152020202520%30%40%50%44.0 %

Sierra Leone's employment in services (% of total employment) rose from 26.2 % in 1996 to 44.0 % in 2025.

Productivity

GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)

constant 2021 PPP $

147th of 168 · 26th in Sub-Saharan Africa
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GDP per person employed (constant 2021 PPP $)Sierra Leone's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $5,972 in 1996 to intl $9,855 in 2025.200020052010201520202025intl $4kintl $6kintl $8kintl $10kintl $9,855

Sierra Leone's gdp per person employed (constant 2021 ppp $) rose from intl $5,972 in 1996 to intl $9,855 in 2025.

›No data available (7)

These indicators exist in the registry but no source reports a value for Sierra Leone.

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