Thematic report on labour migration from the 2019 Kenya population and housing census Analytical Report on International Labour Migration

The "Thematic Report on Labour Migration from the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census," published by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, serves as Kenya's first comprehensive monograph specifically dedicated to international labour migration. Guided by the 20th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, the report analyzes the scale and patterns of workforce movement to support evidence-based policymaking aligned with national aspirations like Vision 2030 and global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals. By providing disaggregated data on migrant characteristics and employment conditions, it seeks to improve migration governance and maximize the developmental benefits of labour mobility within the East and Horn of Africa region. Findings from the 2019 census indicate that Kenya hosted 419,135 immigrants, with 225,197 identified as international labour migrants, the majority of whom originate from East African Community states like Uganda and Tanzania. Regarding emigration, approximately 327,000 Kenyans left the country in the 15 years prior to the census, with 56 per cent moving for employment-related reasons, primarily to the Arabian Gulf, which also serves as a major source of remittances for 1.2 per cent of Kenyan households. While the foreign-born working-age population exhibits a labour force participation rate of 67.9 per cent, the report notes significant gender disparities and highlights the need for continued improvement in tracking migration-related indicators through stronger inter-agency coordination.