So many Kenyans get confused on the best course to choose between Economics and bachelor of commerce in Kenya. This mostly occurs among individuals who are to public universities in Kenya.
To begin with, if you compare the two degree programs at undergraduate level, bachelor of commerce is by far much better. This is so because chances of securing employment at this level is above 60 % while that of economics is 50 %.Meaning that bachelor of economics graduates stand better chance of securing employment in Kenya as compared to economics graduates, simpy because opportunities created for economics graduates are very few.
In Kenya it’s hard to be employed directly as an economics while fresh from college, but you can get a job as an accountant, auditor, financial analyst, business analyst,etc once you pursue a degree in a business related course. What does this mean? That bachelor of commerce has more opportunities than economics.
We have noted that economics mostly get employed as bank clerks or at best graduate trainee in government institutions. If they are unlucky to secure such titles, they are recruited as sales executives. The course is simply unattractive at undergraduate level, which prompt graduates to upgrade their studies to PhD level, where they can secure employment with a title “economics”
With a degree in commerce supplemented with CPA, ACCA, CFA or CIFA,one has 90 % chance of getting a well paying job in Kenya. The best and most encouraging thing about bachelor of commerce is that a master is only added advantage when you possess a professional certification. You can pursue MBA if you wish.
When it comes to salaries, bachelor of commerce graduates earn more than economists in every organization.
You can see from the analysis above that economics is inferior to bachelor of commerce.
