ICT and Soft Skills Dominate Demand as BrighterMonday Pushes for Inclusive Workforce Reforms

 BrighterMonday Kenya, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has released a report revealing critical insights on Kenya’s evolving job market, skills demand, and the state of inclusion across the workforce.

The Skills Gap and Gender Analysis Report 2025 and accompanying Policy Brief on the Future of Work in Kenya highlight that over 75% of Kenya’s population is under 35, positioning the youth at the center of the country’s economic transformation.

However, the findings also indicate that there is a widening skills-to-work gap, with 62.1% of employers citing mismatches between graduate skills and market needs.

Further insights show that critical disparities exist between workforce competencies and employer expectations, highlighting how digital exclusion, outdated curricula, and gender inequalities continue to limit employability for many Kenyan youth.

“The Report underscores the urgent need for demand-driven training and inclusive skilling programs that prepare young Kenyans, especially women, persons with disabilities, and non-urban youth, for the future of work,” said Sarah Ndegwa, Managing Director, BrighterMonday Kenya.

“We are committed to working with the government and partners to co-design curricula, generate employer–TVET partnerships and unlock work-based learning opportunities.Such interventions will ensure that every young Kenyan regardless of gender or location can access dignified work.”

The Report also identifies ICT and digital skills as the most demanded competencies, with 75.9 percent of employers ranking them as critical across all sectors. Communications, teamwork, and problem-solving were also highlighted as top soft skills, with 82.8 percent of employers rating them as essential. 

The report further shows that nearly 90 percent of employers use digital platforms such as Linkedin for recruitment, yet only 25 percent of non-urban youth have access to reliable internet. This digital divide continues to lock out many young people, especially women, persons with disabilities, and refugees, from accessing job opportunities and digital workspaces. Women and persons with disabilities remain underrepresented in high-growth sectors such as ICT, fintech, and construction, while internships and apprenticeships have become the main entry route for young job seekers, underscoring the importance of work-based learning.

To address the challenges identified, the Report recommends aligning training programs with market demand through employer-led curriculum reforms and work-based learning initiatives.

It also calls for expanding digital literacy and equitable access to internet and devices across all the 47 counties to strengthen inclusion by embedding diversity and accessibility policies within Human Resource systems.

Additionally, the study also recommends promotion of county-level employment programs to reduce regional disparities. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of fostering stronger linkages between employers, TVET institutions, and youth-focused organisations to enhance job placement and industry relevance.

In its second edition, The HR SMART LAB 2 reaffirmed BrighterMonday Kenya’s role as a pioneer for labour market insights, collaboration, and data-driven action toward an inclusive, future-ready workforce.

The Generation Kazi program, implemented by BrighterMonday Kenya, continues to tackle these challenges by upskilling and reskilling youth aged 18–35, with a focus on underserved groups; 70% women, 70% non-urban youth and 10% persons with disabilities.