Career Guidance and Counselling as a Tool for Sustainable Livelihood in the 21st Century

Denis Mwatungwa Kaye; Mangai Amos Mahanan; Dorcas Bakari Gono

doi:10.56201/wjimt.v10.no7.2026.pg323.334

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Career Guidance and Counselling as a Tool for Sustainable Livelihood in the 21st Century

Denis Mwatungwa Kaye, Mangai Amos Mahanan, Dorcas Bakari Gono

Abstract

The rapid transformation of the global labour market, driven by technological innovation, globalization, demographic shifts, climate change, digitalization, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), has fundamentally altered the nature of work and the competencies required for sustainable employment. Consequently, career guidance and counselling have evolved beyond assisting individuals in occupational choice to becoming a strategic lifelong intervention that promotes employability, career adaptability, resilience, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and sustainable livelihoods. This paper examines career guidance and counselling as an indispensable tool for fostering sustainable livelihood in the twenty-first century. Drawing upon contemporary literature and relevant theoretical perspectives, the paper explores how effective career guidance equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and adaptive capacities required to navigate complex career transitions and changing labour market demands. The paper further argues that career guidance contributes significantly to poverty reduction, decent work, social inclusion, economic productivity, human capital development, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals , particularly SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Furthermore, the paper discusses emerging trends in digital career counselling, artificial intelligence-supported guidance services, green careers, entrepreneurship education, and lifelong career development. It concludes that governments, educational institutions, professional counsellors, and development agencies should strengthen career guidance systems through policy reforms, investment in digital infrastructure, continuous professional development of counsellors, and integration of labour market intelligence into counselling practice. Such efforts will enable individuals to build resilient careers and sustainable livelihoods amid unprecedented socio-economic transformations.

Keywords

Career guidancesustainable livelihoodcareer adaptabilitylifelong learningdigital career counselling

References

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Career Guidance and Counselling as a Tool for Sustainable Livelihood in the 21st Century

Abstract

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