Kenyan companies participating in the PropelA Dual Apprenticeship Programme are earning an average 30 per cent return on training investment, highlighting the growing link between skills development, productivity and business performance.

The findings were unveiled during the PropelA business impact and investment insights on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, bringing together industry leaders, government representatives, development partners, training institutions and workforce development stakeholders to discuss the future of skills development in Kenya.

The PropelA Return on Investment Study further found that nearly 80 per cent of the value generated through the programme comes directly from productivity gains by apprentices.

“Today, Swisscontact Kenya hosted the PropelA Business Impact & Investment Insights Breakfast, bringing together industry leaders, government representatives, development partners, training institutions, and workforce development stakeholders to discuss the future of skills development in Kenya,” the statement said.

Skills as economic infrastructure

Swisscontact Kenya Country Director Sharon Mosin said the findings challenge conventional thinking on skills development, which is often viewed primarily as a social intervention.

“The findings challenge us to rethink how we view skills development. Skills are not simply a social investment. They are economic infrastructure. Just as roads connect markets and energy powers industry, skilled people drive productivity, competitiveness, and growth. When businesses invest in skills, they are investing in their own future,” Mosin said.

She said the findings demonstrate that companies can directly benefit when they take an active role in developing the next generation of workers.

Over 80 % employment rate

Since its launch, PropelA has partnered with more than 70 companies and supported the training of over 400 young people, achieving an employment rate of more than 80 per cent.

The programme has been positioned as a model for addressing both youth unemployment and skills shortages by bringing employers directly into the training process.

“For years, we have discussed youth unemployment as one challenge and skills shortages as another. The evidence shows they are two sides of the same coin. PropelA demonstrates that when employers become co-investors in skills, businesses gain productivity, young people gain opportunity, and the economy gains a stronger workforce,” Mosin added.

The findings provide a case for scaling industry-led skills development initiatives nationally, particularly as Kenya continues to grapple with high youth unemployment and a mismatch between skills offered by training institutions and those required by employers.

SMEs stand to benefit

The study also found that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) stand to benefit significantly from investing in apprenticeship programmes.

By improving the skills of young workers while allowing them to gain practical experience, the model offers businesses a potential avenue to strengthen productivity and competitiveness without relying solely on traditional recruitment methods.

The findings come against the backdrop of wider calls for practical skills development to support Kenya’s entrepreneurs and businesses.

Speaking during the FINAS 2026 Summit in Nairobi, Mosin said technical skills should be treated as critical economic infrastructure capable of improving business performance and making enterprises more attractive to lenders and investors.

“Skills are not just social investment; they are financial infrastructure. Every skilled entrepreneur reduces investment risk, every competent technician improves productivity and every well-managed enterprise becomes more attractive to lenders,” she said.

The latest findings have renewed calls for businesses to play a bigger role in training workers as Kenya seeks to address skills gaps, improve productivity and create more employment opportunities for young people.