Computer and software engineering skills are the most sought-after by employers, a study by the Federation of Kenya Employers shows.
The survey said skills in computer and software engineering took the lead at 30.7 per cent followed by electrical and electronics engineering (27.4 per cent) and then mechanical and production engineering (25 per cent).
“Other types of engineering required by enterprises were civil and construction engineering, chemical and process engineering and agricultural engineering,” the report said.
The Skills Needs Survey 2023 report said demand for civil and construction engineering stood at 15.5 per cent, chemical and process engineering (8.3 per cent), agricultural engineering (6.3 per cent), biomedical engineering (3.1 per cent) and petroleum engineering (0.6 per cent).
The survey targeted enterprises that are members of FKE.
The enterprises span different sectors of the economy and operate across the country but are clustered in four regions; Nairobi, Coast, Western and Rift Valley.
A total of 521 enterprises participated in the study, the majority of them (58.3 per cent) located in Nairobi.
Primary data was sought through the administration of a questionnaire with both close-ended and open-ended questions to the members of the federation.
The questionnaire was administered physically and online.
The report added that most hard-to-fill vacancies requiring TVET skill level are in architecture, building and construction (2.3 per cent), engineering (2.3 per cent) and transportation, distribution and logistics 2.9 per cent.
It said the most hard-fill requiring first-level university education is in information and technology (7.1 per cent), and finance and business management (7.3 per cent) while most hard-to-fill requiring masters degree are in media, communications and public relations (1 per cent).
It further added that most hard-to-fill vacancies requiring doctorate degree qualification are in science and mathematics (0.4 per cent).
The survey noted that due to skills deficit experienced by enterprises, 25 per cent reported an inhibition of business expansion to some extent, 24 per cent had a loss of revenue and 21 per cent experienced a loss of customers.
The study established that 20 per cent of employers had hard-to-fill vacancies.
