Top 5 private sectors that employed the most Kenyans in its last fiscal year
Kenya's job market offers a complicated mix of developments and persistent challenges. As the country's economy goes through a recovery phase, structural problems affect workforce stability and employment opportunities.
Business Insider Africa presents the top 5 private sectors that employ the most Kenyans.
This list is courtesy of the Economic Survey report by KNBS.
Manufacturing in the private sector provided the most jobs for Kenyans.
According to the most recent Economic Survey report by the Kenyan Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), there was a 2.4% growth in formal sector employment in 2024.
During the year, the informal sector accounted for 83.6% of all employment in the country, with roughly 17.4 million people operating in this broad market.
'The informal sector created 703.7 thousand new jobs, which constituted 90.0 per cent of all new jobs created, with the exclusion of small-scale agriculture.
Further, the total number of self-employed and unpaid family workers within the modern sector was estimated to have increased by 1.8 per cent to 175.5 thousand in 2024,' the report revealed.
While the private sector accounted for just 16.4% of all employment, it boasted only 3.4 million people, underscoring the lack of job opportunities outside of make-shift industries.
The prevalence of informal employment limits access to social protections and stable incomes. Youth Unemployment.
High unemployment rates among youth contribute to social unrest and hinder economic progress.
In April 2025, Kenya's private sector enjoyed its fastest growth in 27 months, according to the Stanbic Bank Kenya Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which increased to 52.0 from 51.7 in March.
This expansion was fueled by strong client demand, which led to increased output, purchasing, and job creation, particularly in the services, agricultural, and construction sectors, as seen on Reuters.
Despite the positive momentum, company forecasts were among the lowest in the survey's history, with only 5% of enterprises expecting an output increase over the next year.
The PMI survey showed strong improvements in the services, agricultural, and construction sectors, but reduced sales in manufacturing and wholesale & retail.
In Kenya, the private sector continues to be a key driver of employment and economic expansion. Even if recent developments show encouraging momentum, overcoming current obstacles and ensuring inclusive, sustainable development will require coordinated efforts.
Kenya can fully utilize its private sector to promote economic growth and job creation by addressing structural problems and creating an environment that is conducive to private enterprise.
With that said, here are the private sectors where most Kenyans were employed in 2024, according to the Economic Survey Report.
Top 5 private sectors that employed the most Kenyans in its last fiscal year
Rank Sector Number of employment
1. Manufacturing 347,294
2. Agriculture, forestry and fishing 308,865
3. Wholesale and retail trade; Motor vehicle repair shops 276,127
4. Education 242,536
5. Construction 223,383
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