Solving Unemployment in Kenya by Integrating Education, Training and Market

Abstract

Africa’s youth unemployment rate is estimated to grow from 10.7% as in 2020 to 42% in 2030 with the current education and training. According to the National Council for Population and Development, Youth (15 – 34 year old), who form 35 percent of the Kenyan population, had the highest unemployment rate of 67 percent in 2017. The major cause of unemployment is various types of mismatches. The general objective of the study was to find out the mismatch between skill acquisition at the university and the absorption at the job market. A sample of 50 students from science and mathematics related courses who had completed industrial attachment was used for the study. Another 100 degree graduates were asked what they were doing after graduation. Seventy five percent (75%) of those who went for attachment confirmed a mismatch of what they learn at the university and what is at the industry. Sixty five percent (65%) of the graduates were in a vertical education mismatch employment and 35% were still searching for employment. Generally, it was observed that there is a mismatch between education, training and the market. There is need to prioritise the implementation of training programmes based on the demand in terms of study level and field of study, an update of curricula by integrating the lacking soft, digital and job search skills, a settlement of a collaborative network between employers and training institutions, an implementation of mentoring programmes and an investment of enterprises in the adequate training of youth as social responsibility.