Nation Kenya: More than 60% of young people in Kenya are unemployed, underemployed or inactive
In Kenya, more than 60% of people aged 15 to 34 are unemployed, underemployed or economically inactive, according to an editorial by Nation Kenya. The publication notes that young people struggle to find work even after receiving education and vocational training.
Annual influx of graduates
According to the editorial board, between 500,000 and 800,000 young Kenyans complete their studies and enter the labor market every year. The formal sector, the newspaper notes, creates too few jobs to employ such a number of new workers.
Some graduates find work outside their field of specialization. Others, according to the publication's assessment, end up in the unregulated informal employment sector, where low pay and job instability are widespread.
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Employment problems
The editorial also states that young women face higher levels of exclusion from the labor market and underemployment. Among the factors behind the situation, the newspaper cites difficult economic conditions, economic growth rates that do not keep pace with the growing number of college and university graduates, and a lack of practical and technical skills required by employers.
Separately, Nation Kenya cites a youth unemployment rate of 67% and notes that people aged 15–34 make up 35% of the country's population. In the editorial board's view, young Kenyans need opportunities to realize their potential.
