The government plans to transform universities and colleges into recruitment centres for overseas jobs as part of an aggressive strategy to tackle youth unemployment, Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime has said.

Speaking during the launch of a digital learning and foreign language programme at Great Lakes University of Kisumu (GLUK) on June 11, 2026, Mwadime said the government was working closely with higher learning institutions to align training with international labour market demands and ensure graduates secure employment immediately after completing their studies.

“It is sometimes immoral to allow our young people to go through school and college, and after graduation, they are unable to secure employment. Our objective as a government is to convert educational institutions into recruitment centres so that immediately after they graduate, they can be absorbed into the workforce,” Mwadime said.

Mwadime noted that Kenya’s youthful population presents both an opportunity and a challenge, noting that a large proportion of the country’s population is below the age of 35 while employment opportunities within the domestic economy remain limited.

He said the government had expanded access to education over the years through universities, technical institutions, and secondary schools, but acknowledged that many graduates continue to struggle to find jobs after completing their studies.

Skills shortages

According to the PS, the Ministry of Labour is increasingly working with universities to identify skills shortages in foreign labour markets and guide institutions on courses that can improve graduates’ employability abroad.

He cited the health sector as one of the areas with growing demand, encouraging young people to pursue nursing and healthcare-related training, including nurse assistant programmes that take a relatively short period to complete.

Mwadime revealed that the government had facilitated employment opportunities for approximately 560,000 young Kenyans over the last three years through labour mobility programmes.

While the Gulf region has traditionally been a major destination for Kenyan workers, he said the government was now placing greater emphasis on Western European countries such as Germany and Austria, where bilateral labour agreements have been signed.

He noted that the government was also pursuing labour partnerships with provinces in Canada and exploring opportunities in other international markets.

“The legal frameworks in many of these countries offer stronger protection for workers’ rights, which gives us confidence as we seek employment opportunities for our young people,” he said.

Mwadime, however, said the government’s labour mobility strategy was based on circular migration, where workers gain skills and experience abroad before returning home to invest and contribute to Kenya’s economic growth.

He urged Kenyans working overseas to embrace a culture of saving and investment, saying their return could help create jobs and spur enterprise development in the country.

The launch also marked the introduction of foreign language training at GLUK, a move university management says is intended to improve graduates’ competitiveness in the global job market.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Hazel Miseda said the institution was embracing technology and innovation to equip students with skills needed in an increasingly interconnected world.

She said the integration of digital learning solutions and foreign language training would enable learners to access opportunities beyond Kenya’s borders, including remote work and international employment.