Globally, governments, development agencies, private institutions, and individuals continue to endorse Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as an effective strategy to address rising unemployment and stimulate sustainable economic growth. In this context, TVET graduates generally anticipate wages commensurate with their level of certified competence. In most economies, particularly in developing nations, TVET serves the labor demands of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, where wages are determined by both market dynamics and the enterprise’s capacity for economic sustainability. The structure and compensation patterns of this sector vary significantly across countries, occupational categories, and levels of experience, resulting in disparities in how skills are valued and rewarded, as indicated by the anticipated daily wages. The purpose of this research was to develop a simplified yet comprehensive model based on the Exponential Learning Curve (ELC) to estimate the acquired Skill Certification Level (SCL) to the Anticipated Daily Wage Rate (ADWR). This was in response to the acquisition of skills through new-skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling strategies being promoted and implemented in Kenya's TVET sector. The model was developed through interviews with construction workers or experts at each level, mapping acquired SCLs and ADWRs onto an ideal ELC flexible enough to elicit respondents' views during the skill enhancement phase and later, when they had actualized their expertise or lost it. Notional Occupation Year (NOY), not based on actual calendar years, was adopted to represent the time of experience or acquired skill. Results showed ELC layers of SCLs on ADWR and NOY axes. A Chart (Appendix) was developed to provide a conceptual and analytical framework for policymakers, training institutions, and employers to estimate equitable and fair remuneration for TVET graduates in Kenya, based on certified skill levels, competence, expertise, productivity, and acquired experience.
Publication Date: 2026-06-01