Top 10 Least Marketable Courses in Kenya in 2026

There is an increasing mismatch between higher education outputs and labour market opportunities, leading to increased unemployment and underemployment among graduates in Kenya’s labour market.

Based on surveys by the employers themselves and labor market analysts, a factor in the above challenge is a case of a mismatch in skills, where the graduates are trained in programs that do not match the required skills by the Employer.

A survey by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) found that only 28 percent of employers were satisfied with the skills of recent university graduates, a situation worsened by oversupply in certain fields and inadequate practical training.

Government representatives have been encouraging institutions of higher learning to align study programs with market demands, as there is oversubscription in courses like education, with hundreds of thousands of graduates lacking employment opportunities outside the sector.

Nonetheless, some areas continue to be notoriously tough for job-seeking or self-employment-seeking graduates.

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Oversaturated Fields of Interest & Skills Mismatch

1. Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM) – Traditional programs such as BCOM are registering high numbers of graduates, but their figures exceed the market demand, resulting in stiff competition for job placement.

2. Mass Media and Journalism – As the media environment has come to favor practical online content and personal brand development over education, media graduates increasingly find themselves lacking in employment opportunities in mainstream media.

3. Political Science – Job opportunities for political science graduates are very limited except in partisan politics, whereby educational qualification is of little importance as opposed to connections.

4. Education (Some subject combinations) – Although teaching is always in high demand, subject combinations like History, CRE, and Business experience saturation levels and fewer job openings compared to the graduates.

5. Psychology and Counselling: Even with the importance of mental health, structured employment opportunities for psychologists are relatively small in Kenya, and cultural factors may limit settings in which private practices are possible.

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Degrees With Limited Absorption

6. Theology and Religious Studies – As most religious organizations do not demand formal qualifications, the value of these courses in the employment arena remains limited.

7. Sport Science & Physical Education – Opportunities in sport science & physical education remain limited due to a lack of institutional demand and small government budgets.

8. Criminology – The recruitment in the security sector tends to emphasize experience over academic qualification in criminology and hence low Rates of Absorption.

9. Hospitality and Tourism Management – Although there has been some expansion in travel-related and hospitality businesses, overcapacity and casual working conditions have led quite a number of graduates down non-related fields.

10. Chemical Engineering (Local Opportunities) – Despite being technically demanding and having international relevance, chemical engineering lacks local market appeal and poses difficulties for recognition of Kenyan qualifications abroad.

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KUCCPS CEO Agnes Mercy Wahome. PHOTO/Courtesy.