Global socio-economic trends in the world of work, especially in transitional societies like South Africa, confront adolescents with career challenges that require a clear sense of self. We explore the relationship between ego-identity and career aspiration, the moderating role of gender, and the mediating role of self-esteem among 336 Black African adolescents. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between both ego-identity and self-esteem with career aspiration. No significant moderating role of gender or mediating role of self-esteem was established. Findings suggest the importance of a well-developed ego-identity and favourable self-esteem in the career aspiration of Black adolescents in South Africa.