Lucrative degrees:10 careers with most job openings

The recently released 2010/2011 National Manpower Survey, besides taking stock of the quality of the labour force, sought to find out the skills that were in high demand, vacant posts and the skills shortage in the private and public sectors.

Business Beat used these three areas to determine the careers in high demand not only in 2010/2011 when the survey was done, but also in 2014, as per the projected demand for skills.

The country’s biggest employer is the public sector, and it also reported the highest demand for skills. Generally, the skills that are most in demand are in the three clusters of education; information and communication; and public administration, defence and compulsory security.

In the private sector, skills shortages are in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and accommodation and food services.

Therefore, the following are the 10 most in-demand careers in Kenya.

1. Teachers

As mentioned, the education cluster reported the biggest skills need. The survey found that teachers, especially those trained to teach in primary and special education institutions, are in demand.

2. Shopkeepers and general store keepers

You can still make millions of shillings by running a shop or a general store, or being employed to run one. The demand for this skill set can be attributed to the growing middle class and its appetite for consumer products.

3. Mechanics

This can also be attributed to the rate at which Kenyans are acquiring cars. The sector, however, has been infiltrated by low-skilled mechanics, which has increased the demand for qualified technicians.

4. Actuaries and risk analysts

The survey reported numerous vacancies and skills shortages in the finance and insurance sectors, which are expected to grow their market share as Kenya becomes a regional hub for these services.

5. Salespersons

The market demands people with marketing skills, and this applies across all industries. Technology and Government reform has made it easier for people to open new businesses, which has increased competition. People who can help businesses outsell their competitors will be well appreciated.

6. Accountants, auditors and tax assessors

The growth of the financial sector is a boon for tax accountants, auditors and tax assessors. In all the industries projected to increase their skills demand, there is not one that can do without the services of accountants, auditors and assessors.

7. Public administrators

The public administration sector was listed as one of the public sector clusters with gaping vacancies. In this category, there is demand for copy typists, stenographers, numerical clerks and general office clerks.

8. Nurses and midwives

Kenya’s doctor to patient ratio is dismal, which means the health and social work sector reported a huge skills demand for medical personnel, particularly nurses and midwives.

9. Chemical engineers and technologists

Chemical engineers and technologists are some of the specific skills that are in high demand in the larger occupation group of technicians and technologists. A technologist is anyone that can put into practice the knowledge of science.

10. Hoteliers

With Kenyans able to spend more on dining out, and a culture growing around food, the hospitality industry has grown in leaps and bounds. The demand is for hotel managers, chefs, waiters and bartenders.