Kenya unemployment rate for 2024 was 5.43%, a 0.13% decline from 2023.

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<li>Kenya unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>5.57%</strong>, a <strong>0.14% decline</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>Kenya unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>5.71%</strong>, a <strong>0.01% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Kenya unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>5.69%</strong>, a <strong>0.07% increase</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.

Kenya’s unemployment rate was 5.43 percent in 2024. This represents a steady decline from the increase after the financial crisis. What is unemployment? The unemployment rate of a country refers to the share of people who want to work but cannot find jobs. This includes workers who have lost jobs and are searching for new ones, workers whose jobs ended due to an economic downturn, and workers for whom there are no jobs because the labor supply in their industry is larger than the number of jobs available. Different statistics suggest which factors contribute to the overall unemployment rate. The Kenyan context The first type, so-called “search unemployment”, is hardest to see in the data. The closest proxy is Kenya’s inflation rate. As workers take new jobs faster, employers are forced to increase wages, leading to higher employment. Jobs lost due to economic downturns, called “cyclical unemployment”, can be seen by decreases in the GDP growth rate, which are not significant in Kenya. Finally, “structural unemployment” refers to workers changing the industry, or even economic sector, in which they are working. In Kenya, more and more workers switch to the services sector. This is often a result of urbanization, but any structural shift in the economy’s composition can lead to this unemployment.

Unemployment Rate in Kenya decreased to 5.40 percent in 2024 from 5.60 percent in 2023. This dataset provides - Kenya Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Kenya (SLUEM1524ZSKEN) from 1991 to 2024 about Kenya, 15 to 24 years, unemployment, and rate.

The youth unemployment rate in Kenya saw no significant changes in 2024 in comparison to the previous year 2023 and remained at around 11.93 percent. Still, 2024 marked the fourth consecutive decline of the youth unemployment rate. The youth unemployment rate of a country or region refers to the share of the total workforce aged 15 to 24 that is currently without work, but actively searching for employment. It does not include economically inactive persons such as full-time students or the long-term unemployed.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Somalia and Burundi.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 5.434 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Key information about Kenya Unemployment Rate

• Kenya Unemployment Rate increased to 2.98% in Dec 2020, from the previously reported figure of 2.60% in Dec 2019.
• Kenya Unemployment Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1991 to Dec 2020, with an average rate of 2.86%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 2.98% in Dec 2020 and a record low of 2.60% in Dec 2019.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Kenya Population reached 49.40 million people in Dec 2021.

Unemployment with advanced education (% of total labor force with advanced education) in Kenya was reported at 8.619 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment with advanced education (% of total unemployment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The unemployment rate among young people in Kenya varied in the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to the previous quarter. In the age group between 20 and 24 years, the rate stood at 15.6 percent, up from 14.2 percent in Q3 2022. Among young people aged 15 to 19 years, the unemployment level dropped to 10.9 percent, after reaching the highest level at 22.7 percent in Q3 2022.

Kenya’s unemployment rate was 5.57 percent in 2023. This represents a steady decline from the increase after the financial crisis. What is unemployment? The unemployment rate of a country refers to the share of people who want to work but cannot find jobs. This includes workers who have lost jobs and are searching for new ones, workers whose jobs ended due to an economic downturn, and workers for whom there are no jobs because the labor supply in their industry is larger than the number of jobs available. Different statistics suggest which factors contribute to the overall unemployment rate. The Kenyan context The first type, so-called “search unemployment”, is hardest to see in the data. The closest proxy is Kenya’s inflation rate. As workers take new jobs faster, employers are forced to increase wages, leading to higher employment. Jobs lost due to economic downturns, called “cyclical unemployment”, can be seen by decreases in the GDP growth rate, which are not significant in Kenya. Finally, “structural unemployment” refers to workers changing the industry, or even economic sector, in which they are working. In Kenya, more and more workers switch to the services sector. This is often a result of urbanization, but any structural shift in the economy’s composition can lead to this unemployment.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 7.366 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on May of 2025.

In 2022, the unemployment rate in Kenya decreased from 5.3 percent in the third quarter to 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter. In the second quarter of 2020, unemployment reached its peak at 10.4 percent among the population aged 15-64 years.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 3.707 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Key information about Kenya Labour Force Participation Rate

• Kenya Labour Force Participation Rate dropped to 67.0 % in Dec 2023, compared with 67.2 % in the previous year.
• Kenya Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2023, with an average rate of 72.9 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 74.4 % in Dec 2016 and a record low of 67.0 % in Dec 2023.
• Kenya Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, Kenya Population reached 51.5 million people in Dec 2023.
• Unemployment Rate of Kenya increased to 3.0 % in Dec 2020.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 590.5 USD in Jun 2023.

Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data was reported at -42.779 % in Jun 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of -1.778 % for Mar 2021. Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data is updated quarterly, averaging -22.649 % from Mar 2020 (Median) to Jun 2021, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of -1.778 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of -42.779 % in Jun 2021. Kenya KE: Unemployment Rate: YoY data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Quarterly.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in Kenya was reported at 16.02 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Kenya - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Kenya KE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data was reported at 9.400 % in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.337 % for 1999. Kenya KE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 13.337 % from Dec 1994 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22.200 % in 1994 and a record low of 9.400 % in 2009. Kenya KE: Unemployment: National Estimate: Female: % of Female Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

In 2023, around 20 million people were employed in Kenya, this was an increase of some 900,000 individuals from the previous year. The employees belonged mostly to the informal sector. Roughly 16.7 million worked in informal conditions, whereas close to 3.3 million were employed in the formal sector. The informal sector constitutes an important part of the Kenyan economy, being related to employment creation, production, and income generation. Trends in the informal labor market and economic sectors The largest employment activities for people in the informal sector were in wholesale and retail trade, as well as hotels and restaurants, with 9.32 million people employed in these areas in 2022. Moreover, the hospitality sector in the country was the fastest-growing economic sector with a quarterly growth rate of 21.5 percent of the GDP. However, the largest economic sector as an added value to the GDP was the agricultural sector. Navigating unemployment challenges in Kenya Kenya’s unemployment rate is following a decreasing trend, which dropped below five percent at the end of 2022. However, unemployment among the youth in the same period was fairly high at 13.4 percent. The cohort with the highest level of unemployment was among the age group between 20 to 24 years old, with an unemployment rate of over 15 percent.

South Africa is expected to register the highest unemployment rate in Africa in 2024, with around ** percent of the country's labor force being unemployed. Djibouti and Eswatini followed, with unemployment reaching roughly ** percent and ** percent, respectively. On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates in Africa were in Niger and Burundi. The continent’s average stood at roughly ***** percent in the same year. Large shares of youth among the unemployed Due to several educational, socio-demographic, and economic factors, the young population is more likely to face unemployment in most regions of the world. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in Africa was projected at around ** percent. The situation was particularly critical in certain countries. In 2022, Djibouti recorded a youth unemployment rate of almost ** percent, the highest rate on the continent. South Africa followed, with around ** percent of the young labor force being unemployed. Wide disparities in female unemployment Women are another demographic group often facing high unemployment. In Africa, the female unemployment rate stood at roughly ***** percent in 2023, compared to *** percent among men. The average female unemployment on the continent was not particularly high. However, there were significant disparities among African countries. Djibouti and South Africa topped the ranking once again in 2022, with female unemployment rates of around ** percent and ** percent, respectively. In contrast, Niger, Burundi, and Chad were far below Africa’s average, as only roughly *** percent or lower of the women in the labor force were unemployed.

Kenya KE: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15+: Male data was reported at 63.076 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 63.034 % for 2016. Kenya KE: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15+: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 65.203 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 71.590 % in 1991 and a record low of 63.034 % in 2016. Kenya KE: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15+: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kenya – Table KE.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15 and older are generally considered the working-age population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.