Empowering Kenya’s Youth: Insights from the 2025 Generation Kenya Alumni Survey

Kenya faces a severe youth unemployment crisis despite having a vibrant young population. According to the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKF), youth aged 15–34 make up about 35% of Kenya’s population. Yet, they experience an unemployment rate of around 67%, which is five times the national average. Each year, over one million young Kenyans enter the labor market, many lacking adequate skills or opportunities. This leads to a pronounced skills mismatch. According to ManpowerGroup’s Global Talent Shortage survey, around 74% of employers globally report difficulty finding skilled talent. According to FKE’s 2023 Skills Needs Survey, 20% of enterprises in Kenya report difficulty filling vacancies due to a lack of qualified candidates.

Generation Kenya, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment, plays a vital role in addressing Kenya’s youth skills and unemployment challenges. Since its inception in 2015, Generation Kenya has trained over 35,000 young people, with an 85% job placement rate. To better understand the long-term impact of its programs, the organization has been conducting an annual alumni survey since 2023, assessing graduates’ progress and outcomes across four key dimensions: employment and career growth, pay and financial health, well-being, and community engagement. This survey, covering alumni 2–5 years after graduation, provides valuable insights into how Generation Kenya graduates continue to advance in their careers and contribute to Kenya’s workforce.

Employment and Career Growth

According to the survey, 70% of Generation Kenya alumni are employed 2–5 years after completing the program, a significant achievement given the high national youth unemployment rate. Moreover, these graduates advance beyond entry-level positions: 79% of employed alumni have progressed to intermediate or senior roles within a few years of starting work. This indicates that Generation Kenya’s graduates continue to demonstrate competence at work, and employers are trusting them to deliver in higher positions. Out of the 70% employed, 85% work in high-quality jobs, when measured as having at least 4 of 5 factors: stable employment, contracts, full-time work, income above living wage, strong sense of belongingness to workplace community, and clear sense of purpose. The survey findings reaffirm that when the right skills meet the right employers, both youth and businesses thrive.

Alumni Voice:

“Generation Kenya has helped me to go from zero to one. I was an operator, but I am now a supervisor. I have my own plot and have built it. I am proud to be a Generation Kenya alumna.”  Mariam Kaingu, Coastal Apparel Supervisor

Financial Well-Being and Economic Mobility

According to the survey, 64% of alumni report being able to meet their daily living needs, and 39% can save a portion of their income, up from 60% and 25% respectively in the previous year’s survey. Income data from the survey show that a majority of Generation Kenya graduates secure jobs paying above the country’s living wage (defined in the survey as KES 28,131 per month). About 58% of all surveyed alumni earn above this living-wage threshold. The survey found no meaningful gender pay gap among alumni: about 60% of male graduates and 58% of female graduates earn above the living wage, indicating that Generation’s training opens fair-paying opportunities for young men and women alike. The data shows that when young people gain stable employment that pays a living wage, they move from financial survival to financial growth.

Alumni Voice:

“The program allows me to meet my personal needs, support my family, and pay my siblings’ school fees.”  Nahashon Maghanga, Sewing Machine Operator Program

Alumni Engagement and Community Impact

Nearly all alumni (99%) have recommended (or said they would recommend) the Generation program to someone they know. In addition, most alumni are actively helping others: 52% reported either hiring a fellow Generation graduate at their workplace or referring a Generation graduate for a job opening. This means over half of the surveyed alumni are using their professional positions to open doors for their peers. Additionally, more than 88% of alumni report positive well-being outcomes: they are satisfied with their lives, feel optimistic about their futures, and are confident in their ability to achieve professional goals.

Alumni Voice:

“It was devastating, burdensome, and embarrassing to have no job for one and a half years. I was traumatized. But after joining the sewing machine operator program, I got a job and now I mentor others as they pursue their goals.”  Clifford Odhiambo, Sewing Machine Operator Alumni

Scaling Up Youth Employment Solutions

The results of the 2025 Generation Kenya Alumni Survey illustrate that while Kenya’s youth unemployment challenge is daunting, it can be addressed through targeted interventions that equip young people with in-demand skills and connect them to jobs. Tackling youth unemployment demands a united workforce ecosystem. Youth must lead the solutions that shape their futures. The private sector can deliver dignified jobs and partner with training institutions for job-ready talent. Government sets policies to scale proven models and drive job growth. Development partners can fund what works. Together with communities and civil society, we have the power—and responsibility—to help tens of thousands of young people build sustainable careers. Let’s seize this moment!