I’m often asked what the quickest and most effective ways are to attract, engage, and retain the best talent.
- •While salary and benefits are important, they are no longer the key drivers of job satisfaction.
- •Employees increasingly seek meaningful work they can take pride in, a culture where they feel included and valued, and opportunities for professional and personal growth.
- •Employers who do not prioritise these are at risk of losing their most valuable asset- their people, and in turn, their profit.
Supporting employee career development is a fundamental necessity for businesses that wish to thrive. Research consistently shows that employees who feel supported in their career aspirations are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to remain loyal to their organization. Those who perceive a lack of development opportunities are more inclined to look elsewhere- or as I call it, become a Flight Risk, leading to costly turnover and a loss of valuable institutional knowledge.
At WorkL, the platform I founded in 2017 after running Waitrose and serving as the UK’s Trade Minister, our research from over 100,000 organizations has shown that a sense of progression and purpose is one of the key factors influencing job satisfaction. Employees want to know that their hard work will lead to advancement. They want to build new skills, face new challenges, and see a future within their current organization. Without a structured approach to career development, businesses inadvertently push their top talent out the door.
The Kenyan Wall Street Best Places to Work, powered by WorkL, recognises the very best organizations in Kenya. Kenyan organizations that made it to the top outperform others across all six of WorkL’s engagement indicators, with notable margins like 14.6% higher for Wellbeing, 14.3% for Instilling Pride, and 13.4% for Job Satisfaction. The data reflects a clear trend: companies that embed development into their culture consistently see stronger engagement outcomes.
Kenya’s overall employee engagement sits at 78%, four percentage points higher than both the African and global markets. Engagement is particularly high among younger employees aged 19 – 24 who scored 79%, again outperforming both continental and global peers. Kenya also outperforms in most industries, including Travel and Leisure (84%), Marketing and Advertising (82%), and Real Estate (81%). While the country leads in many respects, there are areas, such as Reward and Recognition, where Kenyan scores still fall below averages, though they remain ahead of the African market.
So what are the tangible things employers can do to retain talent through career growth?
Firstly, as aforementioned, businesses must embed development into their culture. This means going beyond annual reviews and facilitating ongoing conversations about goals and progress. Employees should feel empowered to openly discuss their ambitions and receive the support they need.
Secondly, learning and training opportunities need to be robust and accessible. This includes mentorship, leadership training, and online learning resources. Organizations must also invest in internal mobility, enabling employees to grow within rather than look elsewhere.
Measuring engagement is critical. Participating in surveys and initiatives like The Kenyan Wall Street Best Places to Work allows organizations not only to benchmark their progress but also be recognized for creating standout workplace cultures.
Finally, personalization and recognition matter. Development paths should be tailored to individual aspirations, whether that’s leadership or deepening functional expertise. Recognizing employees’ growth and efforts, whether through awards, promotions, or simple acknowledgements, go a long way in driving loyalty.
WorkL’s 6 steps- Reward and Recognition, Information Sharing, Empowerment, Wellbeing, Instilling Pride, and Job Satisfaction- form a powerful framework for creating happier workplaces. The best-performing Kenyan organizations outperform their peers by over 11% in each of these areas. Kenya’s lead in engagement, especially among its younger workforce, is an encouraging sign- but there’s still work to do.
Businesses that prioritize career development foster engaged, motivated, and loyal teams. In today’s talent-driven economy, investing in your people isn’t just a nice-to-have, it is smart business. To those keen to benchmark and celebrate their culture, entries for The Kenyan Wall Street Best Places to Work close on 26th June 2025. For more information, email: [email protected]
