The youth have been encouraged to acquire technical and vocational skills instead of focusing on hard-to-find white collar jobs. The Director of Gorgeous Technical Institute (GTI), in Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County, Jackie Waithera further urged young people to identify the courses that are in demand such as fashion and design, electrical work, plumbing, hospitality, hairdressing and beauty, and entrepreneurship. “These manual labor skills are very marketable because one can quickly get a job or start their own business after completing the courses,” she said noting that gaining technical skills is the key to solving the unemployment problem in the country.
Waithera was speaking during the graduation ceremony for 500 youths who completed a three-month short courses in a programme funded by The George Koimburi Foundation in partnership with GTI and Heroes Technical College. “White-collar jobs are drastically shrinking and are being taken up by technological advancements. To beat joblessness, we must equip our youths with technical skills,” Waithera said.
She noted that the unemployment crisis has pushed many young people to drug abuse and crime adding: “In the wake of the unemployment crisis, it’s imperative for the youth to get vital skills that will put them at an advantage in the job market.” Offering right training and funding the youth to establish income generating projects, she noted, can help the government halfway solve the joblessness challenge. Juja MP.