Field Research Examines Quality of Working Life, Gender and TVET Skills in Kenya

 

The Grassroots Walkers Ltd research team today conducted a field visit to a leading construction company in Nairobi as part of an ongoing research project examining the quality of working life, gender issues, and the role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Kenya’s labor market.

The field engagement forms part of a broader effort to understand how workers with different educational and training backgrounds experience the workplace and how these differences translate into practical skills and performance.

A key component of the research focuses on gender and the working environment. Through direct engagement with workers, the study explores whether male and female workers experience differences in working conditions, responsibilities, opportunities for skills development, workplace relationships, career progression, and other aspects of quality of working life.

The research is also examining the contribution of TVET education to practical workplace performance. By engaging both TVET-trained workers and workers who have acquired their skills through alternative pathways, the study seeks to understand how different forms of education and training translate into practical competencies in actual working environments.

Rather than considering educational qualifications alone, the research pays particular attention to workers’ ability to apply technical knowledge, perform practical tasks, adapt to workplace demands, solve problems, and deliver results. This provides an opportunity to better understand the relationship between formal technical training and the competencies that employers require in practice.

The construction sector provides a particularly valuable setting for this investigation because of its strong dependence on practical and technical skills and the diversity of educational and occupational pathways through which workers enter the industry. The field engagement therefore provides important perspectives for understanding the transition from education and training into actual workplace performance.

Through interactions with company management and workers, the research team continues to collect evidence that can contribute to wider discussions on TVET effectiveness, skills development, gender-responsive workplaces, employment outcomes, and the alignment between education and industry needs in Kenya.

The Grassroots Walkers Ltd sincerely appreciates the management and workers of the participating company for welcoming the research team and sharing their valuable experiences and perspectives.

As the research progresses, the team will continue engaging employers, workers and other relevant stakeholders to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how training pathways, gender and workplace environments interact to shape employment experiences and practical performance in Kenya. 

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