No Job in the City? Come Back Home and Be Your Own Boss

Job creation relies on the government, the private sector, self-employment, and entrepreneurship. Currently, statistics show that the government can accommodate 20% of the rapidly growing population, while the private sector can employ 40%. The remaining 40% must choose between self-employment, entrepreneurship, or remaining unemployed. You can choose self-employment or entrepreneurship, but you cannot choose to be employed by the government or the private sector; these two key players in the job industry choose you, not the other way around. The most pressing question is: what if they do not choose you? Another issue is the global discourse on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production and distribution of goods and services.

Modern technology, driven by the desire for technological advancement and economic development, will continue to replace human labor. Even in countries where labor-intensive methods are more suitable than capital-intensive methods to accommodate more people, this will result in technological lag. Machines are generally more efficient and faster than human labor and produce standard products that meet international standards. Therefore, the adoption of this technology will continue, leading to increasing unemployment rates over time. Elon Musk states, “Humans will not need to work unless they want to.” It is safe to argue that the government and the private sector will not be able to employ the entire rapidly growing labor force.

The national discourse on jobs emphasizes self-employment and entrepreneurship to boost formal employment. The government, though not perfect, plays a critical role in ensuring our sustainability. It promotes enrollment in various tertiary institutions for education and training and provides public goods such as transport and communication networks. The private sector is open to new players. Instead of relying on entrepreneurs like Jimmy Wanjigi or S.K. Macharia to create jobs for us, we can create jobs for our siblings, relatives, friends, and other Kenyans. It is high time we, as youth, take charge of our lives and stop waiting for the wind to dictate our direction.

Money and prosperity can be achieved anywhere through legal means. While there is a significant demand for jobs, there is an even greater demand for locally produced goods. The knowledge and skills learned in schools and through experience should be directed towards local production. Challenges can bring out potential. Urban life offers better infrastructure, facilities, and social amenities, but the challenges in rural areas are fewer and less complex. For example, rural areas do not need skyscrapers but locally produced products to bridge the transport gap from urban processing zones.

Rural areas are the new hub of opportunities for young entrepreneurs who can organize factors of production effectively. They offer low costs of production, including cheap land, water, locally made raw materials, and human effort at reduced costs. There are market gaps as there is a considerable population with little local production. Rural economies are primarily known for primary production, extracting goods from their natural state and transporting them to urban areas for processing before returning them for consumption.

Machines, technology, and skilled labor are concentrated in towns, leaving a significant gap in villages. Many youths with an understanding of the dynamic labor market are left to fill these gaps. However, potential job creators in rural areas face two misguided beliefs: that informal sector employment is for the less educated and that the educated should not stay and work in rural areas. These beliefs compel many to seek urban jobs, leading to congestion and competition for limited opportunities. The local population needs guidance on the realities of the urban job market.

Investments are needed everywhere. Urban areas are already established and require high-level investments, which may not be favorable for young investors. The rural economy is open to anyone who can address local problems appropriately. The government is improving transport, communication networks, electricity, and local Economic Processing Zones to enhance rural production. Yet, youths are not ready to seize these opportunities. Public goods that attracted our parents to towns are now available in villages. Young people must stop confining themselves to urban life and start giving back to the communities that supported their education.

Government resources are directed where people are concentrated. More economically active people in villages would mean increased government focus and improved infrastructure, promoting rural development. Therefore, instead of struggling for jobs in towns, come back home, change the old narrative, and be your own boss.