Most Relevant Careers in Kenya Going into The Next Decade

The job market in Kenya and around the world is evolving. With this in mind, what may seem like the perfect opportunity now may become outdated and irrelevant in the next ten years.

For this reason, young adults enrolling in various programs in college and university need to understand the current and future market trends.

When it comes to choosing the career path you want to pursue, you may feel blocked or lost. The good news is you’re not alone because many young adults face this problem, but you can always find a way to figure out a solution.

Considering the recent trends in the job market in Kenya, here is a list of careers that you can pursue now:

Computer Science/ Information Technology

It’s no news to anyone that we are living in the digital era and more advancements are happening as the years go on. Global companies everywhere in the world have a high demand for computer geniuses, and, Kenya is no exception.

Computer scientists and IT specialists are among the best-paid workers in any company.

Information Technology specialists at the bachelor’s level earn an average starting salary of 429,000 shillings per year, according to PayScale.

Software engineers, on the other hand, with a master’s degree are projected to be the highest paid with an average starting salary of 1,206,695 shillings per year. This is because if you look at computer science jobs and salary in Kenya, those with extensive experience and increased education earn more.

Digital Marketing

Many companies are turning to the digital frontier to deliver their messages, target a bigger audience and market their services and products.

There’s no getting around the fact that almost all businesses, sooner or later, must include digital in their marketing activities. And with the demand for digital marketers outweighing the supply in Kenya especially, there are plenty of opportunities out there for those looking to get into the field.

According to PayScale, a digital marketing manager’s starting salary in Kenya is about 748,800 shillings per year, with additional compensations of about 30,000 shillings in bonuses and 55,00 shillings in commissions.

Business

Opportunities in the business world cut across different sectors. Economics, Statistics, Finance, Business Management, Accounting, Procurement among others are some of the business careers that you can venture into.

As such with a Business degree accompanied by a professional qualification (ACCA, CFA, CPA, CIFA, CIPS, CPS) you are likely to get a well-paying job. You can also do freelance consulting if you prefer not to be employed.

A Business Manager with at least two years’ experience in administration in Kenya, for example, earns an average of 1,320,000 shillings annually.

Project Management/Monitoring and Evaluation

If you would love to work for a nonprofit, this is the course for you. The job opportunities in the area can come from any field including engineering, agriculture or finance.

Depending on the company you work with, a project manager salary usually varies. However, most Kenyan project managers earn an average of 200,000 shillings per month considering the fact that most Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) pay very good salaries.

Public Relations and Communications

A communications officer is responsible for establishing and facilitating internal and external communication to maintain a positive perception of their organization.

Their responsibilities may include the internal dissemination of company materials, memos, and other information; they may also work on tasks such as public relations, monitoring or writing website content, maintaining mailing lists and any material sent through such lists, maintaining an updated list of media contacts, and writing public statements.

The communications officer may conduct a wide range of duties in their day-to-day work from preparing brochures and public relation materials to conducting press conferences to working with media contacts.

An academic and/or professional background in communications, journalism, or a related field is generally required for this role.

The average pay for a communications officer in Kenya 876,750 shillings per year with average bonuses of about 110,000 shillings.

Data Analyst/ Specialists

Currently, data analysts are on high demand across all industries all over the world and in Kenya. With such a boom in the use of analytics, having the skills required to work with data isn’t just valuable – it’s all but a necessity.

The importance of these skills is only going to become more important in the future as more industries and businesses jump onto the trend, which is why we’re now seeing such a focus on data analytics in higher education.

A data specialist/ analyst currently earns an average of 737,341 shillings per year.

Art/ Design

If you’ve always thought of yourself as a creative person that also has a keen eye for details, a Master’s degree in Design might be the perfect fit for you.

Designers focus on the appearance and physical aspects of a product without overlooking the functionality and usability and overcoming customer satisfaction. Designers are “the brain” behind every concept or idea of a logo, food package, website, and more.

The average starting pay for a Graphic Designer is 487 shillings per hour. Meaning that in a year, a graphic designer with zero to two years’ experience earns about 513,693 shillings.

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Consider these Careers

1. Computer Science/Information Technology
2. Digital Marketing
3. Business
4. Art and Design
5. Data Analysis
6. Public Relations and Communication
7. Project Management/Monitoring and Evaluation