Labour Statistics exclusion raises questions

The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) is expected to release its Labour Statistics on 29 January 2025. However, the agency has come under fire for excluding unemployment figures and the Labour Force Survey from its 2023 Census Report, sparking concerns over transparency and accountability.

Youth, who form a significant portion of Namibia’s 1.4 million voters, are particularly impacted. According to an Afrobarometer survey, unemployment stands at 43% overall, with youth unemployment at a staggering 58%.

Policy analyst Dr. Marius Kudumo addressed the controversy, acknowledging the urgency of unemployment data but downplaying its immediate impact. “We already know unemployment is high, especially post-COVID, and youth unemployment is even higher. The challenge is validating this through scientific methods,” he explained. Kudumo added that the NSA must do more to clarify why such data has historically been omitted.

The exclusion raises questions as Namibia prepares for its upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections on 27 November 2024.