Rationale and Research Questions: There has been growing recognition from of the potential for sport to contribute to development, and employability has emerged as one of the core thematic areas of sport for development (SFD). However, we have a limited overview of SFD programmes and their contributions as it relates to (youth) employability. As such, the following review seeks to summarise current literature on the topic and answer three related questions: (1) how are sport-for-employability programmes structured?; (2) what sport and non-sport activities are used?; and (3) what competencies are developed or targeted through these programmes?Research Methods: A Scoping Review following Arksey and O’Malley (2005) is conducted to locate and synthesize literature on sport-for-employability programmes. Results: Programmes mainly rely on a mix of sport activities and workshops to develop a sub-set of social and personal competencies and support the acquisition of general employment skills as well as some formal qualifications across a range of sport or service-related professions. Implications: The focus on a limited set of competencies and service professions can limit the quality and stability of employment outcomes and may not align with the broader realities of the employment market. As such, we conclude by proposing future research avenues to address these concerns.
Authors: Louis Moustakas, Laura van Zantvoort
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/js72b
Publish Year: 2023
