Vocational training to tackle joblessness and artisans' skills gap

The anticipated construction boom presents an opportunity to relieve the burgeoning youth unemployment crisis. [iStockphoto]

Construction is one of the fastest-growing economic sectors in Kenya and indications are that it is likely to become even more significant in the future. Only two years ago, the country's construction market size was valued at over Sh2 trillion and projected to grow annually by 5 per cent for the next three years.

Last year alone, the National Construction Authority received some 8,154 applications for project registration, according to the Architectural Association of Kenya's Status of the Built Environment Report. This year, the ambitious government affordable housing projects are likely to propel the sector's strong performance.