Youth unemployment crisis draws national attention as MP calls for action

Swapo MP Emma Muteko has raised alarm over the escalating youth unemployment crisis, particularly in the Kavango East and Omusati regions, calling for an urgent investigation into the root causes affecting young people aged 15 to 24.

Speaking during a session of the National Council, Muteko expressed concern about the persistent lack of opportunities for the country’s youth and urged the government to clarify what is driving the regional disparities in youth joblessness. Her remarks come as Namibia faces mounting pressure to address structural economic challenges that continue to leave young people behind.

Labour researcher and activist Herbert Jauch responded by outlining several key issues at the heart of the crisis. He stressed the need for a shift in the country’s economic strategy—from merely exporting raw materials to investing in value addition and local industries.

“What needs to happen are structural changes to the economy—away from just mining and exporting raw material—towards increasing processing and establishing industries that are important, like producing panels locally, rolling out solar systems, and training young people to become technicians.”

He also advocated for the introduction of a Universal Basic Income Grant as a short-term intervention to stimulate grassroots economic activity and improve livelihoods.

The Numbers

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) and World Bank estimates, Namibia’s youth unemployment rate has impacted those aged 15–24 hardest.

Young people in Namibia remain especially vulnerable, with the combined youth unemployment and potential labour force rate forecast at a staggering 61.4%. A Namibian Parliament report from 2023 pegged the youth unemployment rate at 44.4%, with the NSA projecting an increase to 45% in 2025.

In total, more than half of Namibia’s youth are either unemployed or actively seeking employment, reinforcing the urgency of structural reforms and policy interventions.