Labour force in Kenya from 2013 to 2023

Kenya’s labour force has undergone a decade of consistent expansion, growing from 19.04 million individuals in 2013 to 23.18 million by 2023.

According to World Bank data captured in the Ipsos Strategy3 Multi-Country Gig Economy Study, the country’s workforce maintained a steady upward trajectory for much of the last ten years.

While the figures hovered around 20 million between 2016 and 2019, a notable surge began in 2021.

The labour pool expanded from 22.01 million that year to 22.57 million in 2022, eventually reaching its peak in 2023.

This growth highlights the increasing number of Kenyans entering the job market, largely driven by the burgeoning gig economy and informal sectors.

As the national workforce continues to scale, these metrics underscore the urgent need for economic policies that can absorb millions of new entrants.

The data serves as a critical indicator of the country’s evolving demographic dividend and the shifting nature of employment within the region.