Job seekers in Kenya want to work in an industry that is not saturated and one that has a clear growth path as well as a decent salary to sustain their livelihoods.
This article will examine seven job skills coupled with marketable courses that would place one at an advantage when looking for a job in Kenya.
The workforce is like an animal constantly on the move and having a degree is considered an asset. It constantly evolves as the technology and skills needed to succeed in the business world evolve, slowly and sometimes rapidly, over time.
The ongoing global pandemic has greatly altered how companies operate, consequently, some jobs have been considered redundant.
More and more students are leaning towards enrolling for the most marketable degree courses in Kenya due to the rising number of graduates and more competition in an ever dynamic job market.
However, with universities currently offering more than 400 undergraduate programmes, settling on one is not as easy.
Here's a look at 7 highly marketable courses in Kenya 2020:
Computer Science and Information & Technology
Every sector in the economy requires the use of modern technology for easier operation.
A person with a Bachelor of Science - Computer Science can do several functions such as programming, system security, computer maintenance, network management, and web-design
Engineering
Engineering jobs are expected to grow, though some types of engineering will do better than others.
Courses included in this category are mining, construction, geomantic, mechanics, electronic, civil, electrical, mechanical, geospatial computer and software engineering.
Diploma graduates in mechanical engineering find themselves earning a starting salary of more than Ksh100,000 when they land jobs in the government and blue-chip companies.
Engineers have a technical specialty that can help Kenya to achieve vision 2030 by developing infrastructure such as road networks, water reservoirs, treatment plants, chemical plants, automotive manufactures and the pharmaceutical industry.
Degree in Health Sciences
They include Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Clinical sciences.
These courses are always on demand not only in Kenya but throughout the world, especially during the current pandemic.
Although ranked among the toughest courses in Kenya, its demand still keeps rising.
Kenya is facing a big challenge in the medical sectors. Currently, there are approximately 8,000 registered doctors and 33,000 registered nurses. This explains why the course is one of the most marketable in the country.
Architecture/Quantity Survey
Although it takes about 7 years to be a qualified, certified architect in Kenya, which includes the duration one works in agencies on placements, getting a job isn’t as hard as in other flooded fields.
Additionally, Kenya is currently experiencing a surge in the number of structural projects that need the services of architects, structural engineers, and quantity surveyors.
Well, besides being a good course to pursue, quantity surveyors end up earning way more than their degree counterparts. Only less than 10% of them earn less than Ksh50,000.
On the other hand, architecture is a course that is not saturated and there still exists a high demand for architects in this country.
Reports reveal that a starting salary is often capped at Ksh50,000. If you are talented and have a passion for it, this salary is likely to double or even triple with experience.
Pharmacy
The fastest growing industry globally is pharmaceuticals. Currently, professionals in the field offer cures for non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and stroke that are leading courses of death.
Jobs in the sector are available both at the national and county levels. Covid-19 has made this course even more marketable as the country is looking to local solutions.
However, one can open their own practice after completing a 5-year degree course.
Pharmaceutical diploma graduates from KMTC or the University of Nairobi end up earning really well when they are employed.
Like quantity surveyors, most of them end up opening their own pharmacies and depending on the location can earn up to Ksh100,000 in a month.
Law
This may not seem like one of the marketable professions but it is. There will always be a need for lawyers.
Not many people survive the process of qualification probably because it is long and considered difficult.
What makes law a marketable profession is the fact that the economy will always need legal experts to draft and interpret contracts, offer arbitration services, and protect the rule of law.
Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations
In the new age of information, engaging effectively with customers, partners and the wider community is a vital part of the business for most organisations.
Public relations and social media experts research, design and implement campaigns, help drive the strategic direction of organisations and ensure that messages reach their intended audience by using the most appropriate communications channel.
However, it does not mean that all the other courses are useless, what it means for other professions is that one has to strive to be unique in order to get recognized. Gone are the days when a simple degree or diploma would get you a job.
Nowadays, it is all about what extra qualifications or certifications do you have that will be of benefit to the organisation.
A recent study by Oxford University has revealed that the developed world can expect job loss rates to the tune of 47% in the next two decades or so. It asserts that AI and robotics will infiltrate nearly every facet of our daily life by 2025.
According to the study, a plethora of industries will take the brunt from impending automation, including customer service, healthcare, logistics, transport, and homecare just to mention a few.
The bigger question, however, is: which industries, or rather professions, will face minimal or no threat from automation. According to the study, these specials set of skills are: judgment, content creation skills, creative skills, empathy, athleticism and physical skill, leadership and social Skills
