Influence of vocational training on youth employment: a case of Maara District in Tharaka Nithi County

Abstract

The government has made several attempts in an effort to reduce. employment. One of them is provision of skills through vocational training. Much focus has been on revamping the youth polytechnics through the Ministry of youth affairs and sports to train schoolleavers without skills. This study sought to assess the influence of vocational training offered in the village Youth polytechnics on youth employment. To assess this, the study examined the influence of quality of training, duration of training, type of course and entry level of trainees on employability of graduate trainees. To achieve this, a total of 173 respondents comprising of 8 managers, 15 instructors and 150 graduate trainees were sampled. The study employed questionnaires, interviews and documentary analysis to collect information from respondents in Maara District, Tharaka Nithi County.

As it was difficult to locate graduate trainees working outside the district, snowballing method was used to reach those working in far off locations The data analysis consists of examining the evidence so as to address the initial proposition of the study. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis. Cross data tabulations, percentages and frequencies were used determine associations between the dependent and independent variables. The findings revealed that there was an influence of the type of course, quality of training and entry behaviour of trainee on youth employment. However, the duration of course did not have a significant influence on youth employment. In conclusion the study summarised that vocational training had an influence on youth employment. The findings of the study were to be used to inform policy making both by the government and development partners. The study was also to form a foundation for further research pertaining to vocational training and youth employment.