Out of 3,763 individuals who registered as jobseekers in the fourth quarter of 2024, only 352 have secured employment opportunities, reflecting a placement rate of just 9.4%, recent figures show.
According to data from the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation, this leaves a total of 3,411 jobseekers still seeking employment opportunities.
Despite efforts by employment officers to facilitate placements, the data highlights the ongoing challenge of matching job seekers with available positions.
The Ministry notes that during the fourth quarter of 2023/24 out of 3,763 jobseekers registered 1,551 are males while 2,212 are females.
Khomas region registered the majority of jobseekers at 934 followed by Kavango East at 600.
The regions with the lowest number of jobseekers registered are Ohangwena with five, Oshana at 21, Oshikoto at 36, and //Kharas with 72.
“Out of the total number of 3,763 jobseekers registered during this quarter, 3,738 are unemployed while 25 are employed jobseekers looking for greener pastures. Only two of the jobseekers registered are people with disabilities,” the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation said.
In terms of age distribution, the data reveals that the largest cohort of registered jobseekers, totalling 744 individuals, falls within the 30 to 34 age brackets.
This is closely followed by 741 individuals in the 25 to 29 age bracket, and 617 individuals aged 35 to 39.
Furthermore, when considering educational backgrounds, the majority of unemployed jobseekers in this period have completed junior secondary education, with 1,348 individuals holding such qualifications.
Following closely behind are those with senior secondary education at 1,162 individuals, while 507 individuals possess certificate or diploma qualifications.
Additionally, “382 individuals have completed primary education, 203 individuals have non-formal education backgrounds, 128 individuals hold university degrees, and 6 individuals have postgraduate qualifications,” the Ministry said.
During the quarter, 352 job seekers were placed, with 145 females and 207 males. Kavango East had the highest number of placements at 85, followed by Khomas, Hardap, and Omusati.
Most placements were in public administration at 125, agriculture at 91, health and social work at 46, and education at 38.
The majority of placed job seekers had junior secondary at 124 or senior secondary at 123 education.
