Joblessness is a big issue in the country. The number of those seeking jobs is quite high despite world bank data putting Kenya’s unemployment rate at 5.6 percent.
Perhaps the world banks figures could mean any job engaged in by anyone is counted as employment. This ranges from part-time, temporary, permanent, online work and even jua kali.
If we asked individuals if they are employed, the data would be different. A job should be salaried, have a pension and have a physical location.
The government in collaboration with private sector needs to create more jobs to accommodate increasing population.
Read: KNBS Reports 3.5 million Youths Are Idle
The following are some of the ways the state can leverage to create more job opportunities:
Ensure political certainty. Investors and consumers create jobs if there is certainty. Political stability informs decision making on long term investments.
Goods produced and services rendered must be of high quality. Quality ensures a constant demand and jobs thereof. This is the reason why we send our children abroad for higher education and we visit Indian hospitals.
The government must keep improving the quality of education. High-level skills and knowledge produce quality goods and services and keep improving them through innovations.
The society must tame corruption and tribalism. How can we create jobs when meritocracy never counts for anything? One reason why some countries create so many jobs is that they attract the best and the brightest; tribe and nationality are muted. Think of Silicon Valley, which we are trying to imitate.
We must love work. Jobs are created when we work and create value. We dislike work but love the pay. The society should be taught to do away with protestant work ethic.
We must ride on capitalism. We create jobs as we pursue our interests in a well-regulated economy. Regulation should be a facilitator not a hindrance to investment.
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