This archive report was first published on 17 July 2019.
According to a report by ICEA Lion on employment trends in Kenya from 2014 to 2018, employee salaries are determined by various factors, including supply and demand, industry rates, labour unions, and employer decisions.
Published in 2018, the report highlights the best-paying jobs in the private and public sectors. In the private sector, which accounts for approximately 70 per cent of formal employment, financial services and energy sector employees were the best paid that year.
Financial services employees pocketed an average monthly salary of Sh150,000, while those in the energy sector earned an average of Sh141,666. Administrators' salaries averaged Sh133,333 a month in 2018.
Interestingly, private sector employees in sectors that contribute significantly to Kenya's economy were among the lowest paid. For instance, manufacturing sector employees earned an average annual salary of Sh41,813, while hospitality workers averaged Sh36,166 and agriculture staff Sh27,833.
However, hospitality industry employees working for the Government were much better paid, taking home an average of Sh150,000 a month. Other well-paid public sector employees included those in transport and financial services, who earned Sh141,666 on average.
On the other hand, the lowest-paid employees in the public sector were those in education, who earned an average monthly salary of Sh55,416; in public administration, who earned Sh47,833; and agriculture at Sh36,000.
Furthermore, the report indicates that education, construction, ICT, and health sectors lead in creating formal job opportunities, while trade, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors dominate in informal job creation. Approximately 17 million Kenyans are employed, with the informal sector accounting for more than 80 per cent of all jobs.
