Kenya’s Gen Z is facing an increasingly difficult entry into the job market, with technology shifts, economic pressures and outdated recruitment models shutting many young people out of employment. This is according to Dr. Ekrah Ndung’u, National Chairperson of the Kenya National Association of Private Colleges (KENAPCO), who has called for urgent reforms to reposition TVET and micro-credentials at the centre of youth empowerment.

Dr. Ekrah spoke after being honoured as the TVET Champion of the Year by Principal Secretary Hon. Abubakar Hassan of the State Department for Investment Promotion.

She noted that the first obstacle young jobseekers face is automation, which has rapidly replaced routine entry-level roles in customer service, data entry, and basic creative work. “AI is already reshaping livelihoods,” she said, pointing to cases such as that of Donald King, an employee who helped build AI systems that cut workloads but later found himself laid off following the same automation he contributed to. “It shows how entire job categories can vanish overnight.”

Other major challenges include the experience paradox, where employers demand work experience even for entry-level roles, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted internships, industry exposure and hands-on learning for millions of students.

Dr. Ekrah also cited credential inflation, saying a bachelor’s degree no longer guarantees opportunity. “Employers now want specialised, practical skills. The labour market is changing faster than we can adapt,” she said. An ongoing economic slowdown has further squeezed available opportunities, with younger applicants competing against older workers returning to the job market.

She added that a mismatch in expectations between young people and employers has worsened the situation. “Gen Z seeks meaningful work, flexibility and fair pay, while employers want patience, discipline and gradual progression. We must bridge this gap.”

-TVET and Micro-Credentials as the New Pathway

Dr. Ekrah said the solution lies in elevating *Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and expanding access to micro-credentials.

“TVET provides hands-on, job-ready skills that industry needs immediately — from electrical installation to hospitality and ICT,” she said. Micro-credentials, on the other hand, offer short, targeted certifications that allow rapid upskilling in areas such as coding, digital marketing, project management and AI literacy.

“These two pathways bridge the gap between theory and practice,” she added. “They give young people credibility and confidence.”

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A Multi-Sector Solution*

Dr. Ekrah outlined a four-part approach to addressing youth unemployment:

1. Policy Reform:
   Elevate TVET to equal status with academic paths and incentivise employers to recognise micro-credentials.
2. Youth Strategy:
   Encourage young people to build “skill stacks” — combining one vocational skill with one digital micro-credential — and develop online portfolios with real projects and certifications.
3. Employer Engagement:
   Redesign entry-level work as apprenticeships, traineeships or project-based roles, and prioritise adaptability over traditional experience requirements. And this will be possible with the recently launched Dual Policy which she was part of the technical team that drafted it.
4. Mentorship:
   Mobilise leaders and training champions to mentor young people and restore dignity to vocational skills.

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Restoring Dignity to Skills

“Gen Z is not the problem,” Dr. Ekrah said. “The system is outdated. We must honour vocational skills, embrace micro-credentials, and build a workforce ready for the future.”

She added that skills are the new currency, and Kenya’s development depends on empowering young people with practical competencies, not just academic titles.

Ends