Employers' Report Shows Biggest Job Opportunities for Diploma, Certificate Holders

A new survey released on Tuesday, November 21 by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) revealed that employers are increasingly shifting base to candidates bearing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) while filling job vacancies. 

The report titled Skills Needs Survey indicated that 34.9 per cent of businesses prefer candidates with a TVET qualification, which was higher than the demand for candidates with a master’s degree or a doctorate at 12.1% and 3.1%, respectively. 

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree remain the most in-demand among employers with the demand standing at 43.8%. 

Transport and Logistics Sector

“Workers with up to TVET skill level are mostly in demand in transport, distribution & logistics (26.5%), social service & community development (13.2%), and hospitality & tourism career fields (11.1%),” the report highlighted in part.

Furthermore, FKE revealed that companies are considering candidates with TVET education who also possess critical soft skills such as communication, creative thinking, and team work.

Again, the transport and logistics sector was highlighted as having the biggest opportunities for TVET students at 21.3 per cent. The electric wiring and installation sector, followed closely at 21.1 per cent.

Building and construction, that is masonry, and plumbing among others followed in third at 18.2 per cent while agriculture-related qualifications including agriculture extension and dairy came in fourth at 9.8 per cent. Rounding up the top five was hospitality, that is housekeeping and tour guide at 9.6 per cent.

TVET courses in Kenya are accredited by the Technical and Vocation Education Authority (TVEA) and are offered through certificate and diploma programmes in some universities, colleges, polytechnics, and technical training institutes. 

FKE deduced from the findings that most of the career fields require TVET education as well as a bachelor’s degree, which 43.8 per cent of companies are considering to a large extent, more than any other education level in the country.

“Workers with up to undergraduate degree qualification are mostly in demand in information technology (50.5%), finance & business management (48.4%), and legal professions (36.5%),” added the report.

The findings offer a positive insight for Kenyans bearing only bachelor’s degrees or TVET qualifications in a job market that is highly competitive in the midst of an unemployment crisis in Kenya.

Computer Proficiency

Furthermore, FKE revealed that companies are targeting candidates who possess engineering skills such as computer and software engineering amidst the digital era, preferred by 30.7 per cent of firms.

Electronics and computer engineering were preferred by 27.4 per cent of enterprises while mechanical and production engineering were preferred by 25 per cent of firms. Other types of engineering included civil and construction engineering, chemical and process engineering and agricultural engineering.

FKE, however, indicated that 36 per cent of enterprises highlighted management and computer use proficiency as technical skills found to be the most lacking among job applicants, followed by a mastery of a foreign language at 28 per cent.

It is worth noting that President William Ruto on Sunday, November 19 expressed his intent to travel to Germany to check on the progress of the 200,000 jobs German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to Kenyans when he visited the country in May this year.

Furthermore, the enterprises emphasized social skills including effective communication, both written and oral, one that is preferred by 49.1 per cent of firms. This is followed by critical thinking at 41.7 per cent and teamwork at 25.7 per cent, with time management skills (23.4 per cent) completing the top five.