Image: Pexels.com: Unemployment
For any organisation, company or business to run, several people must be employed. This hasn't been easy in the recent days. Unemployment has been rampant from tertiary graduates to normal individuals.
I will discuss several reasons why unemployment is continuing to multiply in Kenya. These factors includes:
1. Abundance of graduates
Kenya has invested more in education facilities. There are more public and private universities. In early 1980s kenya had two universities that is Kenyatta University and The University of Nairobi. However, things have changed and every year a thousand of graduates are joining the competitive market. Despite their excellence in academic work, most of them lack the basic practical skills. Most of them want large salary at their first attempt into the corporate world. The organizations are willing to accommodate some graduates but they can't give opportunity to everyone. A few gets the coveted positions while the rest are left jobless.
2. The choice of jobs
We understand that the courses we learn in school act as a foundation, but not a guarantee to securing employment in that field. This problem of choosing specific jobs is mainly experienced by graduates from colleges and universities who feel like their worth is a bit higher. I once encountered with a story of a top K.C S.E student in a local newspaper. He has been excelling even in campus exams. However, no organization was ready to hire him because of higher financial expectations.
3. There are a few industries in Kenya
Most of produce we consume are acquired from foreign manufacturing companies. In Kenya we value agriculture but we export our products which later arrives as products of another nation. The little manufacturing industries cannot accommodate people who are looking for a single opportunity to make a living. Unemployment is continuing as the country is taking no action in providing a favorable environment for more establishments of companies.
4. Positions held by the wrong people
That's common in the society as corruption and favoritism are the friends to these unemployment sagas. If you happen to visit any public office, you will realize that the managers don't have the morale to lead an organisation. Most of them got the opportunity as a result of 'mutual connection '. The individuals who have the skills to handle the I.T Controls, for instance, are locked out of the positions.
5. The parents perception
Most parents believe that employment is the only way to escape poverty. This value has made the parents to force their children to study for courses they don't love. This is evident in most tertiary institutions. "My son, you should study Education course. Avoid the Engineering one. Brian is a graduate of the same course. Where is he now?" A parent once said. This perception has caused unemployment as their children have certificate but they are not interested in those jobs.
6. The losses experienced in companies and organisations
Due to stiff competition, commodities have become abundant in the market and people have options in case of high price. Whenever the supply is high, then the demand becomes low. As results of making losses, their products are not getting clients, the employees are fired and then joins the unemployment arena.
7. Lack of self discipline
The ability to conduct yourself in an orderly manner is minimal to most individuals. This trait begins during the childhood and extends to the adulthood. The bosses in all organisations loves employees who works under minimal supervision and have ability to know the appropriate environment to do a certain activity. Whenever a person cannot hold his mouth appropriately in public, he or she is likely to fall into indiscipline traps.
Unemployment is as results of self drive and someone's priorities. It can be minimized if we embrace responsible parenting and adopting the practical nature of delivering skills from a younger age.
©️ Kelvin Munene
12 /3/2024
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