According to a new Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report, nearly 14 times more formal sector female employees joined the Ksh100,000 and above pay bracket for the first time in 2023. However, men remain considerably more in the top earners club than women.
The report released late last month shows that 14,268 women joined the pay bracket above Ksh100,000 in 2023 compared to 1,256 men.
According to the report, there are 139,847 women in the high-earners club now, compared to 247,571 men.
Over the last four years, from 2019 to 2023, 30,520 women joined the top earners, while 61,026 men have jumped to that class over the same period.
According to the report titled Statistical Abstract 2024, 908,004 men and 518,242 women are earning between Ksh50,000 and Ksh99,999 every month, a slight increase from 2022. Women had the highest jump, with 58,171 more women joining this bracket up from 460,071 women in 2022.
The number of men earning between Ksh30,000 and Ksh49,999 stands at 557,166 and 455,334 for women. As for those in the Ksh25,000 to Ksh29,999 pay bracket, there are 55,049 men and 36,060 women.
The trend of more women than men continues in the lower pay brackets among Kenyans earning between Ksh0-9,999. In this pay group, there are 6,321 men and 5,741 women.
The total number of employees in the formal sector stands at 3,138,182, with men slightly edging out women. There are 1,871,034 men compared to 1,267,148 women in formal employees.
Women joining the top earners club means more women are joining senior management posts across the formal sector.
According to international NGO World Vission International, when more women join the high-earning bracket, it increases overall household income and drives higher consumption and investments.
679,952 people are employed in the education sector, which covers all levels of education, from pre-primary to higher education, and includes educational support activities. According to KNBS, the total earnings in 2023 for this sector were Ksh564,544.8 million.
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors encompass various agricultural activities, including growing beverage crops like coffee and tea, sugar cane cultivation, fiber crop production, mixed farming, livestock raising, and support activities for animal production.
According to KNBS, the sector employed 344,254 individuals in 2023. The total earnings for this sector in 2023 were Ksh365,824.2 million.
While speaking during the launch of the 2024 FinAccess Household Survey Report on Tuesday, December 3, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi asserted that "Employment remains an area of concern, and the sector continues to contribute to job creation and economic development in Kenya."
