Businesses across Kenya are pointing to a more positive outlook for hiring in 2026, driven by plans to grow operations and support expansion, according to a new survey by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
The survey, carried out in January among executives from banks, microfinance institutions and major non-bank companies, shows that a growing number of business leaders expect to bring on new staff this year as their firms expand and take on more work.
Among commercial bank CEOs, 89% said they plan to increase their workforce in 2026 compared to last year. In the same realm, 56% of executives said they were considering hiring more employees.
The data suggests a clear shift from recent years when job growth was slow and firms were cautious about taking on new staff.
Also Read: Report Reveals What CEOs Plan to Do Should Finance Bill 2024 Become Law
Many CEOs said that fresh hires are needed not just to fuel business growth, but also to upskill and reskill existing workers, helping teams cope with new demands and higher workloads.
Manufacturing firms topped the list, with around two-thirds of executives saying they definitely will, or probably will, bring in more people this year. Agriculture firms were close behind, with a similar share expecting to add workers.
In contrast, the transport and construction sectors showed more mixed signals, roughly half of leaders in those industries expect to hire, but few were certain. The tourism sector also showed potential, with a significant number of executives expressing optimism about adding staff.
The survey also showed that some companies remain cautious about hiring because of ongoing pressures to control costs, improve productivity and maintain profitability. These challenges mean not all firms are ready to commit to expanding their workforce just yet.
