Nzula, from Atarah Solutions, says while degree holders might have the right academic qualifications, their remuneration expectations at the entry level puts them at a disadvantage compared to interns who are willing to gain valuable workplace experience.
"Some have the 'I have a degree and so I should be at a certain level' mentality. The graduate might have an attitude and may take time to fit his skill sets with those of the organisation. On the other hand, an SME would rather have an intern who theoretically knows what is expected of him, is easier to culture and pay," she says.
Still, having interns in critical positions has its drawbacks. As Nzula says, such ones are not fully polished to make key decisions and will fear taking business risks.
To bridge such gaps, Nzula recommends having an understudy in key positions. This, she says, not only reduces the high unemployment numbers but also closes gaps in the workplace by ensuring business continuity.
Quresha Abdullahi, executive director at the Institute of Human Resource Management in Kenya says the mismatch in skills begins within the curriculum development where learners in all levels are trained to pass exams rather than prepare them for the workplace.
For example, Abdullahi says a quick search on online job portals reveals over 10,000 openings "but Kenyans say they are no jobs because they lack the skills needed for the advertised tasks".
Recently, she adds, a government agency advertised for about 1,000 jobs but got over 200,000 applications but only a few of the applicants could fill the jobs.
"Lack of skilled people means those already in these jobs are overworked. While increasing productivity in the workplace is key, it requires soft skills that are not taught in our schools. Hard skills account for 30 per cent of workplace needs while soft skills including energy, level of commitment, and discipline account for 70 per cent," she says.
She says proper skills development in Kenya requires the synergy between stakeholders in the labour sector and the education system.
"Those who finished high school last year will be admitted into universities soon but what skills will they come out with? Will they be taught skills that are needed in the workplace today? We can update our curriculum but also bring in the industry perspective. Our universities and colleges should have space for experiential learning from an expert in a particular field in order to prepare students for the workplace and not just for the exams," says Abdullahi.