By Pennina Shilongo
The youth make up over 60% of the African population, and Namibia is no exception. Namibia has been plunged into high unemployment amongst its youth, at 44.4%, the highest youth unemployment rate in SADC.
This presents a missed opportunity considering that the youth are the most productive segment of any nation.
And as we usher in the 6th National Development Plan (NDP6), one of the priorities that stand out is tackling youth unemployment.
This is both a timely and commendable focus by the government, and this commitment signals political will at the highest level of government, to confront one of our generation’s most pressing challenges.
Addressing this Achilles Heel in our social fabric is therefore not merely an economic issue, but a social imperative.
Over the past months, we have seen increased efforts by government, the private sector and our development partners, to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Again, this is commendable and the momentum is quite encouraging.
However, in our collective drive to create more jobs, we ought to pause and ask ourselves: What kind of jobs are we creating?
It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game with the amount of jobs created and the number of youth employed, however the true measure of progress lies beyond these figures.
From an economic diplomacy perspective, sustainable employment is not just about absorbing people into the labour market, it is also about the strength of the market itself.
The following are some questions we need to ask ourselves: are we building an economy that produces decent work and rewards productivity? Or are we inadvertently entrenching a cycle of underemployment, low wages, and limited upward mobility?
Unfortunately, many of the jobs available to young people today are short-term, poorly paid, and lack benefits or career growth opportunities.
As a result, many are employed on paper but still struggling to make ends meet. This situation fuels frustration and disillusionment, especially as the cost of living continues to rise and the dream of a decent life drifts further away for many.
Hence, it will be vital to integrate the quality of employment as a key measure in our performance indicators. We should be asking: are these jobs sustainable? Do they contribute to long-term economic empowerment? Are we equipping young people with the skills and protections they need to thrive in an evolving economy?
A job should not only occupy one’s time, it should also sustain one’s life. It should offer stability, dignity, and fair compensation that enables a person to afford to live a decent life and afford basic needs leading to an improved quality of life.
So in our efforts to meet employment targets, we must not lose sight of the quality of jobs being created. A narrow focus on quantity risks producing a workforce that is employed, yet economically insecure. Where jobs exist, but livelihoods do not.
I believe Namibia’s youth are ready, capable and eager to contribute to nation building. What they need are not just opportunities to work, but opportunities to live and build. Let us, therefore, ensure that in our pursuit to meet employment targets, our policies and programmes are targeted to uphold the dignity and sustainability of the work we create.
*Pennina Shilongo is an international development professional who holds a Master’s in International Relations and Economic Diplomacy. The views expressed are her own.
