Trade and Labour Pathways for Decent Work in Kenya's Digital Economy 2025

Introduction The global digital transition is reshaping economies, supply chains and labour markets. The World Trade Organization (WTO) estimates that the value of cross-border digitally delivered services has nearly quadrupled since 2005, growing at an average annual rate of 8.1% between 2005 and 2022. This growth has outpaced that of goods (5.6%) and other service exports (4.2%). Digitally delivered services now make up 54% of total global service exports,7 as firms use platforms to access talent and markets. Meanwhile, total corporate investment in AI reached $252.3 billion in 2024, a 13-fold increase over a decade.8 These shifts are not only transforming business models and trade flows – they are fundamentally redefining the nature of work. More than 162 million people (20–30% of the workforce) in the US and Europe engaged in some form of independent work in 2016,9 with growth continuing in online freelancing, e-commerce, ride-hailing and microtasking services. Governments are launching AI strategies as global tech firms are reshaping labour markets through remote outsourcing and algorithmic workforce management. With rising ICT exports and a vibrant tech ecosystem, Kenya offers strong investment potential in digital trade and services. Trade and Labour: Pathways for Decent Work in Kenya’s Digital Economy 5