Reasons why most graduates are unemployed in Kenya

Reasons why most graduates are unemployed in Kenya and suggested solutions

Unemployment is a situation when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work.  The most frequent measure of unemployment is the unemployment rate. This is the number of unemployed people divided by the number of people in the labor force. Most of the graduates are unemployed in Kenya as they lack employability skills and quality needed in the current labour market.

Employability refers to once ability to gain initial employment, maintain employment, and obtain new employment if required. In simple terms, employability is about being capable of getting and keeping fulfilling work. You attain this by cultivating a set of skills, knowledge, understanding, and personal attributes. These increase your likelihood of selecting and securing occupations in which you will find satisfaction and success. Unemployment is a major problem In Kenya. This has led to most college and universities graduates to live in long way life jobless. It has brought a great negative impact in Kenya.

Major Causes that lead to unemployment

Why most graduates are unemployed in Kenya

Lack of Skills: Having the right degree, in a relevant subject, with good grades, might help get you shortlisted for a job; but getting the job will usually require you to demonstrate your skills and abilities. Employers seek graduates with a diverse set of finely-tuned life skills; merely fulfilling job requirements isn’t sufficient. It’s essential to showcase your creativity and cultivate innovative thinking. You’ll need to be assertive and be able to solve problems, make decisions, and negotiate effectively. Graduates rarely learn this factor on campuses and in colleges. The majority of teaching focuses on theory for examination purposes.

The mismatch between skills cultivated within the education system and those valued by employers can create a situation where the expectations of individuals who acquire these skills are raised. However, they may not align with what employers are seeking. Consequently, in Kenya, graduates find themselves unemployed and may not actively pursue the available job vacancies. Employers may remain hesitant to hire readily available candidates. This mismatch is particularly noticeable among school leavers and recent graduates.This contributes to the high unemployment rate among young people entering the job market. To address this issue, it is recommended to overhaul the education system, placing greater emphasis on technical education and vocational training programs that align with the current job market demands.

Missing Interpersonal skills that may lead to unemployment

Communication skills

Communication skills encompass a range of abilities essential for transmitting and receiving messages with precision, whether through spoken or written communication. These skills are crucial for fostering clear and meaningful interactions with others, minimizing the risk of misunderstandings, and facilitating effective communication. Imagine trying to explain your thoughts or ideas to someone, but you struggle to express yourself clearly. That’s what poor communication skills are all about – having difficulty in getting your message across when you talk or write, which can lead to misunderstandings and confusion in conversations.

Listening Skills

Listening involves the process of actively receiving and interpreting both verbal and non-verbal messages conveyed by others, including written communication. It plays a pivotal role in our ability to comprehend and engage effectively in conversations and exchanges with others. When you have poor listening skills, you might hear the words someone is saying, but you miss the important details and the emotions behind those words. It’s like reading a book and forgetting the plot – you’re present, but you’re not really connecting with what’s being said. This can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and a lack of trust in your relationships, both personal and professional.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the capacity to identify, comprehend, and effectively regulate both your own and others’ emotions, harnessing them in a constructive manner to attain desired outcomes. Minimal emotional intelligence means struggling to recognize and understand emotions, both in yourself and others, you may find it challenging to manage your own emotions and use them in a positive way to reach your goals. Additionally, you might struggle to connect with others on an emotional level, which can hinder your ability to achieve the outcomes you desire in various aspects of life.

Teamwork Skills

Teamwork is the skill of collaborating with others in various group settings, be it formal teams within organizations or informal gatherings. While not every role demands constant teamwork, the competence to excel in group dynamics is pivotal across most professions. The absence of this skill can have major consequences, potentially hindering productivity, innovation, and the achievement of common goals within the workplace.

Negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills

Negotiation, persuasion, and influencing skills are crucial for finding win-win solutions in various situations. These skills involve convincing others that your idea is good or working together to come up with better solutions. Without these skills, you might struggle to find mutually beneficial solutions in different situations, which can hold you back and limit your problem-solving abilities.

Conflict resolution and mediation

Conflict resolution and mediation skills are important for solving disagreements in a positive way, whether they’re your own or involve others. People often underestimate these skills until problems occur. Without them, disputes can linger, relationships can suffer, and teamwork may be less effective, impacting productivity and happiness.

Problem-solving and decision-making

Problem-solving and decision-making skills are vital for working well with others to identify and solve problems, including choosing the best actions to take. While you can make decisions and solve problems on your own, doing it with a team adds complexity. Without these skills, problem-solving can be less effective, decisions may not be optimal, and teamwork can suffer, impacting overall success.

The Skills Gap, skills mismatch and interpersonal skills has kept these youths out of jobs There has been a lot of discussion over recent years about a perceived ‘Skills Gap’, a difference (or gap) between the skills employers wants and the skills that young people develop whilst in education. When you leave education and apply for a job one need to demonstrate that he has the skills and the abilities that employers are looking for? Critical thinking proposes proactive actions that include anticipating future skills and also highlighting crucial sectors for future jobs.

Always Evaluate and assess future skills needed in the labour market in a strategic way,

Solutions to unemployment among graduates in Kenya

Create your job position

Young people should consider creating their own ventures. The crisis may reduce traditional job opportunities but it also creates new demands  that didn’t exist before. These needs could be the biggest job opportunity for individuals to escape unemployment

Build general skills

Soft skills always have been and always will be important. Even after a financial crisis, the world will not stop. Eventually, jobs will re-open. However, priorities are now different. Unemployed people will need to build skills based on what the world needs right now.

Build digital skills

This particular step is probably the most well-promoted over the past couple of years and for a good reason. Digital transformation is an inevitable future for the world of business.  No matter what your business might be, you will need to have a strong digital footprint and you will need to know how to sustain it. Simultaneously, as an employee, it will be a necessary qualification to find work in every sector. From all the potential skills that you might need to develop, digital skills are on the top of the list.

Take Internship opportunities

Internships used to be just a way to add some experience to your resume. Now they are way more than that. Through internships, people get the opportunity to learn how new types of businesses work. Simultaneously, they have the opportunity to learn a job, gain expertise, and potentially secure a position within the company where they are interning. Nowadays, most business owners want to hire people who already know the job. It is no surprise that they will simply keep interns as employees after the internship is over. This could be a potential for a good job for you. Or at least a step to the next potential solution.

Build a network

A network is very important nowadays. Whether you want to search for employment or find a person who could be your potential partner in a business venture, the bigger the network the better. You can promote your work, talk about your ideas and of course, promote your products or services when the time is right. A network is also a great way to build your brand reputation. If you decide that self-employment is the best course for you, use your network wisely.

Keep educating yourselves

No matter what your personal or professional choices might be, education will never stop being an important factor in your life. If you want to build a bright career and if you want to make yourselves as marketable as possible, you must find the perfect educational opportunities for you. You can also take online courses, paid or free, focused on one or even more subjects. Always focus on finding the best providers and the courses with the best and most accurate information.

Keep updating your CV

Although you need more innovative ways to combat unemployment, some traditional methods will still need to be taken into accounts. Creating a good CV is always a great way to promote your work.

Conclusion

Statistics show that still most graduates are unemployed in Kenya. As the facts stare at us, its time to think of solutions on a personal level.

The above six solutions might sound very difficult but they are easier than what you might think. You need to take time to think about what it is that you want to do with your life. What are your priorities? What is the subject you want to focus on? And most importantly what is your expertise on the subject?

Find your own creative solutions to combat unemployment on a personal and non-personal level.