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The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has named public sectors which accounted for the highest number of employment rates in the country.

According to the Economic Survey 2024 report released on Monday, May 20, 2024, wage employment in the public sector increased by 5.9 per cent in 2023 compared to 1.6 per cent recorded in 2022.

KNBS report disclosed that the education sector recorded the highest growth of 10.9 per cent mainly attributable to the large number of teachers hired by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The hiring process was instituted to avert teacher shortages in junior secondary schools.

“Wage employment in the public sector increased by 5.9 per cent in 2023 compared to 1.6 per cent recorded in 2022. During the year under review, education recorded the highest growth of 10.9 per cent mainly attributable to the large number of teachers hired by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC),” the report read in part.

“The Teachers Service Commission wage bill rose by 6.5 per cent to Ksh285.0 billion and accounted for 34.2 per cent of total public sector wage bill in 2023,” KNBS announced.

The education sector was closely closed followed by human, health and social work activities which registered a growth of 5.1 per cent.

“Employment in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply declined by 5.6, 3.1 and 1.9 per cent, respectively in 2023,” KNBS explained.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment drive carried out in 2023 also contributed to the increase in number of employment rate in the public sector.

KNBS on accommodation sector

KNBS further pointed out that employment in accommodation and food service activities registered a positive growth of 27.8 per cent.

The survey established that the employment rate in the accommodation sector peaked due to increased international arrivals and domestic tourism, which resulted in higher hotel bed occupancy rates in the review period.

Other industries that recorded marked growths were water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities and activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies at 8.1 per cent and 7.1 per cent, respectively in 2023.

In the private sector, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles were the leading sectors in providing wage employment.

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