Top Paying Jobs: Human Resources The Next Best Paying Career in Kenya

By Elizabeth Benu,

Human Resources has nowadays become one of the most compelling and competitive careers. It has undergone a huge transformation and more people are acquiring academic qualifications in Human Resource Management (HRM).

Most HR jobs posted at Career Point Kenya require one to get involved in multiple functions such as recruitment and selection, training and development, employee relations, contracts of employment, complaints and grievances, employee rights, appraisals, and health and safety.

With all those duties and responsibilities why are most people rushing to pursue HRM degrees, diplomas or higher national diplomas?

Milkah Mboche, a recruitment consultant at My Jobs Eye, gives her opinion on whether HR is the next big career in Kenya.

“Yes. It has become more strategic and it is not just about pushing paper (dealing with forms and reports all day). It is about recognizing that employees are a key aspect and being involved in making board and strategic decisions within a company,” she opines.

‘With the upsurge of more recruitment and consultancy firms do you think people are getting into HR just to start their own firms? I ask

“No. many regulations have been put up such as membership of the Institute if Human Resource Management (IHRM). The standards have been raised and nowadays a diploma is not sufficient.

For example the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology offers a Master’s of Science in HRM,” Ms. Mboche says.

To emphasis on her point, the Human Resource Management Professional Act No 52 of 2012 says that, “A person may register a HR firm if the firm has a certificate of registration of a business name or certificate of incorporation; the firm has at least one partner or principle shareholder who is registered as a HR professional and who has a valid practicing certificate.”

An entry level HR officer job can earn about 40K-80K a month while a more experienced level such as Head of HR or HR Manager gets 300K-400K.

‘Would you say more people are getting into HR for the money ?’ I probe further.

“HR is being recognized as a key aspect in most organizations. Of course money is an aspect but since HR Managers are key contributors in a company that is what mostly drives people into HR,” she explains.

With the high demand for more skilled employees and great company growth HR might probably be the next big career as it keeps attracting people.

What’s your take on this?