5 Things You Need to Know About the Current Job Market in Kenya – New Survey Reveals

Job seekers today will agree the job search process is not easy, and if a new survey on the current job market in Kenya is to go by, the process might get even harder. The new survey, launched on Monday, 27th March, 2017 by Corporate Staffing Services in conjunction with the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM), reveals startling information.

According to findings from the survey, titled “Job Outlook Survey 2017: Trends, Challenges & Future Outlook”, most employers do not believe the current job market in Kenya will get any better. In fact, 73% of respondents said they will not be looking to introduce any new positions this year. Instead, they plan to hire for replacement positions or not hire at all.

And this is just the beginning of bad news. Below are 5 more things you need to know about the current job market in Kenya as revealed by the new survey.

What You Need to Know about the Current Job Market

1. Only 27% of Employers Will Be Hiring in New Positions

From the 892 Human Resource Professionals surveyed in the report, only 27% expect to hire employees in new positions. The rest do not expect to make any new hires for the remainder of 2017, and those who will be hiring, will only do so in replacement positions.

This to mean job seekers are about to have an even harder job hunt, as they compete against huge numbers of suitably qualified candidates for very few available positions. So, how well prepared are you as a job candidate to stay ahead of the competition?

2. Employees Should Not Expect a Salary Raise this Year

Unless you work for an organisation whose pay is determined by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), like our Kenyan doctors, you should not expect an increase in compensation. According to the survey, 57% of employers are not planning to increase staff salary in 2017 and a few plan to decrease the salary.

The 43% that are anticipating an increase, they will do so in accordance with CBA implementation, annual inflation rates and the increase will be majorly on commuter and leave allowances. So, if this was the year you wanted to ask your boss for a salary raise, don’t get too disappointed when they say no. You are not the problem; blame it on the elections and slow economic growth.

3. Sales & Marketing, ICT and Accounting are Top Professions to Find Jobs in 2017

Just because 73% of employers are not looking to hire in new positions does not mean all is lost for applicants in the current job market in Kenya. If you are in these 5 professions, you should expect more open positions throughout the rest of the year. The professions are listed starting with the one expected to have most job openings.

1. Sales & Marketing
2. ICT
3. Administration
4. Accounting/Finance
5. Technical Professions (Engineering, Quantity Survey)
Is your profession among those listed above?

Related Article >>> Where To Find Jobs in 2017

4. Too Many Applicants & Poor Quality of Candidates Top Recruiting Challenges

Survey findings on the current job market in Kenya and future expectations show the most common problems that organisations are suffering when recruiting include, too many applicants at 67% and poor quality of candidates at 56%. Acceptance of job offers by then subsequent withdrawal from candidates follows at 40%, with unwillingness to relocate and failure to appear for interviews also making the list.

These top recruiting challenges have remained the same from the year 2015, when a similar survey was conducted.

5. August Elections & Slow Economy are to blame for the current job market in Kenya

When you are searching for jobs without luck, making applications without an interview invite from recruiters and asking for a salary raise that never comes, don’t take it too personally. According to the new survey, 52% of employers cited the current political climate as their biggest business challenge.

This was followed by slow economic growth at 43% and low consumer demand for goods and services at 30%. With these challenges at bay, organisations are finding it hard to maintain their daily operations and in turn, the current job market in Kenya is feeling the pinch.

In conclusion

The “Job Outlook Survey 2017: Trends, Challenges and Future Outlook” was conducted between January and February, 2017 among 892 respondents. It was commissioned to find out the sectors expecting to hire in the remainder of 2017, expectations in staff compensation levels and where to find jobs in 2017, among others.

From the findings, most employers are unsure of what to expect in regard to the overall job growth, with only 24% being certain there will be a growth in jobs. What do you think? Do you expect an increase in jobs or do you share the view of most employers as revealed in this new survey.

For career queries, get in touch with Corporate Staffing Services: clientservice@corporatestaffing.co.ke