6. Profits Down, Jobs Down.
The following companies have posted a fall in profits in 2014 at the Nairobi Securities Exchange: Crown Berger; Pan Africa Insurance; Sameer Africa, Sasini, Williamson Tea; Kapchorua Tea; Transcentury; Mumias, East Africa Portland Cement; Rea Vipingo and TPS Eastern Africa. See any patterns? Land and Construction-related jobs, Tea-related jobs and Tourism-related jobs have or are about to contract.
7. Just Behind the Kenya Retail Market
Kenyans are shopping the house down. The average value of a shopper’s basket at Nakumatt, Naivas etc has risen to 67% in five years and formal retail penetration is at 25-30%, double the figure for Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria. As we pointed out two weeks ago, the retail industry has jobs to offer. But consider also the industries supporting retail: imports and logistics, fresh produce, supplies management, manufacturing, distribution, you name it.
8. Fast-food Jobs
World over, the Fast-Food industry evokes McDonalds. The fast food giant is coming to Kenya. It’s not clear how soon this will happen, but if you’ve been looking around, you must have noticed the following recent entrants into the Kenyan market: Subway, Cold Stone Creamery, Teriyaki Toridoll, Ocean Basket, Domino’s Pizza, Naked Pizza and of course, KFC. These firms hire servers, managers and cooks for each of their stores, but you know who else they hire? Marketers, accountants, financial analysis, client service personnel, supplier management and externally, suppliers of a wide range of goods and services.
9. Leather-related Jobs
Kshoe, formerly, Kwanza Shoes already has four stores in Nairobi. They are now seeking to be listed of the NSE in the Growth Enterprise Market Segment to raise capital that will allow them to open 10 new stores this year and also venture into manufacturing of leather footwear and accessories. And if you’ve been keen on business news, you have definitely heard that Bata, the shoe giant, recently opened a large flagship store in Nairobi and is expanding quite aggressively. It’s time to consider which skills you have that could provide value to employers in these industries.
10. Plastics Industry?
Flame Tree Group, makers of Zoe Lotion and water tanks, are now venturing into the production of mobile plastic toilets, producing 50 a day at their Industrial Area plant. Meanwhile Afia Juice makers, Kevian Kenya, have taken over the former Castle Breweries plant on Thika Road to produce plastic water tanks. Is the plastics industry going to see job expansion?
Are there really no jobs in Kenya, as is the commonly held belief? We think not.
And now that you know about all these jobs, what next dear jobseeker? Do you really understand which industries, companies and positions fit your skills, interests, strengths and weaknesses? Do you know how to make the right connections to get the attention of employers? Do your applications result in a response rate above 25% or silence and more silence? Do you know how to impress before, during and after the interview? Jobsmentor’s short, small-size and affordable classes can help you answer these questions and GET THE JOB YOU WANT.
Website: www.jobsmentor.co.ke/classes
