Unemployment with basic education in Kenya
Kenya: Unemployment with basic education was 3.8% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Unemployment with basic education in Kenya, 1999–2022
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with basic education.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 3.8% for unemployment with basic education in 2022.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 139.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education in Kenya peaked at 9.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 2016.
That places Kenya 90th out of 128 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 1 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.6% | 4.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.8% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More work & labour data for Kenya
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 68.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 72.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 63.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 35.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 33.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 37.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 67.4% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment with basic education in Kenya?
- Unemployment with basic education in Kenya was 3.8% in 2022, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with basic education recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1999.
- What is the lowest unemployment with basic education recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 2016.
- How does Kenya rank for unemployment with basic education?
- Kenya ranks 90th out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
- Is unemployment with basic education rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 139.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).