Getting a first job after university remains a long wait for many Kenyan graduates, with a new study showing that they spend an average of 11.6 months searching for employment amid concerns over practical skills and workplace readiness.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) report shows that graduates face several hurdles when trying to enter the labour market, with lack of previous work experience emerging as the leading challenge.
Limited job openings, a mismatch between graduates' skills and employer needs, weak professional networks and poor access to labour market information were also identified as major obstacles.
The findings are contained in a study titled Employability of Graduates in Kenya: A Study of Perceptions and Expectations of Employers, which highlights a growing difference between university training and the abilities employers want from new employees.
Employers said graduates commonly struggle with communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, workplace readiness and digital skills.
"Importantly, these deficiencies extend beyond technical knowledge and point to broader concerns regarding behavioural competencies, professional conduct and the ability to function effectively within organisational environments." the report reads.
The length of the job search varies among graduates. Only 25.3 per cent find employment within six months of graduating, while 34.7 per cent secure their first jobs between six and 12 months.
Another 26.7 per cent take one to two years to get into employment, while 13.3 per cent wait for more than two years.
Overall, the study found that four in 10 graduates spend more than a year looking for their first job.
The findings also reveal a difference in how graduates and employers view job readiness. More than half of the graduates surveyed, at 52 per cent, said they were well prepared for the labour market. Another 34 per cent considered themselves very well prepared.
"Analysis of the empirical responses indicates that the majority of graduate respondents felt well prepared (52 per cent) for the labour market, while a considerable proportion (34 per cent) reported being very well prepared. This suggests an overall positive perception of readiness and confidence among graduates in their transition into employment," reads the report.
Employers, on the other hand, said having a university qualification does not always mean a graduate is ready to handle workplace responsibilities. While they acknowledged that graduates often leave university with a strong base of theoretical knowledge, they said many require practical exposure before they can work independently.
"We don't just look at the degree. What matters is whether the graduate can actually perform the tasks required without constant supervision," one employer is reported to have responded.
Another employer said: "Most graduates have the theory, but we need people who can apply it immediately in the workplace."
Graduates taking part in the study also pointed to the difference between classroom learning and the demands they encounter after securing employment.
"At university we learned concepts, but when you get to work, you realise employers expect practical skills and experience," one is reported to have said.
The manufacturing industry provides an example of the challenge, with employers saying new graduates can require between six and 12 months to become fully productive. Companies therefore have to provide further training to help them gain the skills needed to carry out their duties.
Communication was among the areas employers said needed improvement. They cited professional writing, presentation, interpersonal communication and the ability to explain ideas clearly as weaknesses among graduates.
Problem-solving and critical thinking were also highlighted, followed by time management. Employers raised concerns about punctuality, meeting deadlines and maintaining workplace discipline.
When asked about the competencies they value most, employers placed ethical conduct and professional behaviour first. Discipline-specific technical knowledge came next, followed by time management and reliability.
The study found that the widest differences between employer expectations and graduate performance were in problem-solving and critical thinking. Communication and time management were also areas where notable gaps were recorded.
Beyond university degrees, employers are increasingly seeking specialised technical abilities and professional certifications. The trend is particularly important in sectors that are changing rapidly, where additional skills can influence a graduate's ability to meet workplace demands.
The shortage of immediately work-ready graduates is also placing an extra training burden on employers, who have to invest more resources in preparing new recruits.
Internships and industrial attachments could help close this gap, but the study found challenges in both their availability and quality. Graduates and employers questioned the length and structure of some workplace attachments and called for more meaningful exposure to real work environments.
The graduates involved in the study placed greater practical and hands-on learning among their main recommendations. They also called for more internships and attachments, stronger partnerships between universities and industry, courses that are better matched to labour market needs and improved career guidance and support.
The study recommends that the Ministry of Education establish a national graduate employability framework. The framework would set national employability standards, encourage work-integrated learning and strengthen labour market information.
The report also proposes incentives for organisations that provide structured internships, apprenticeships and graduate trainee programmes.
CUE is further urged to make employability indicators part of university programme accreditation, institutional audits and quality reviews as institutions work to better prepare graduates for the labour market.