Opting out of public sector employment: Gender and occupational aspirations among university graduates in Sierra Leone.

Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article explores the relationship between gender and occupational aspirations. Descriptive findings suggest largely similar desired occupational roles across gender; however, regression results show that the odds of females aspiring for public sector employment are half that of males. Lower ambition for public sector employment among females is associated with less favourable perceptions of public sector employment in key areas that are deemed important to graduates such as salary, status from employment, the ability to contribute to society, training opportunities and career progression. Such 'opting out' by university‐educated women has implications for women's inclusion in national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]