Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has been identified as a “quick win” for tackling Namibia’s escalating youth unemployment crisis, which experts say now requires urgent and results-driven reforms.
Speaking at the Sanlam | Allianz Brief Session, Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) Statistician-General, Alex Shimuafeni, said vocational training offers one of the fastest ways to equip young people with practical skills and absorb them into the workforce.
“When we talk about skills mismatch, we must look at all angles. Formal employment, informal work, and the vocational sector all matter. The TVET route can immediately create opportunities for young people who can take up skilled trades while helping the economy diversify beyond white-collar jobs,” said Shimuafeni.
He called for the government to expand apprenticeships and link TVET qualifications directly to procurement and infrastructure projects, saying such steps could help address structural unemployment while stimulating local enterprise.
Shimuafeni warned that Namibia’s youth unemployment crisis has reached alarming levels, with 44.4% of Namibians aged 15 to 34 unemployed, rising to 61.4% when including discouraged jobseekers.
He noted that 71.1% of the country’s population is under the age of 35, warning that the crisis will intensify without bold reforms.
“The worry is that we have more people joining the employment market, and we need to create those jobs. I read on social media where someone said about our beautiful roads infrastructure that people do not eat roads. We must focus on what gives jobs and take deliberate steps to support the youth instead of repeating the implementation song every year,” said Shimuafeni.
He urged both government and the private sector to create employment beyond traditional industries, focusing on manufacturing, tourism and logistics, which he described as labour-intensive and growth-enabling sectors.
Shimuafeni also said deliberate procurement reform could drive job creation, citing that in 2024, Namibia imported bed linens worth over N$36 million, a market that could have supported young local producers.
“When we import more than we export, we create jobs outside the country. Government, as one of the biggest buyers, must take bold steps to procure locally. That way, we create jobs internally and support youth-led enterprises that are ready to produce goods and services here at home,” he said.
Economist Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm described youth unemployment as a “ticking time bomb”, warning that unless targeted action is taken, it will deepen inequality and social instability.
“Mining and oil contribute to GDP, but they are minimal job creators. We need to direct funds to sectors like tourism, construction and logistics that have stronger employment effects. The challenge is not planning — the solutions exist — it’s implementation and ensuring that growth translates into actual jobs,” said Jansen.
He also called for tax reform to be linked to youth employment, suggesting that companies benefiting from incentives should demonstrate measurable job creation for young workers.
“There’s a big gap between university and the workplace. It’s not just about academic background; we must build practical and entrepreneurial skills. Entrepreneurship needs to start in secondary school because we have the drive, but we just don’t know how to practically do it,” said Jansen.
Psychology student Tamia Diergaardt said long-term unemployment has severely affected young people’s mental wellbeing, often leading to depression and hopelessness.
“Unemployment leads to frustration, and that frustration leads to desperation. When we are desperate, we do anything just to survive. I think we should see this not only as a problem but as an opportunity to build resilience and invest in young people with proper guidance and support,” said Diergaardt.
Media student Quinteline Nunuhe said Namibia’s education system must adapt to modern economic realities by teaching digital and practical skills from an early stage.
“Most of the time, more investment is put into theoretical teaching than practical experience. We need to expose learners to real work environments early and introduce skills like computing, financial literacy and digital media at school level. If we bridge that gap, young people will leave education ready for actual jobs,” said Nunuhe.
She added that Namibians must learn to work with artificial intelligence (AI) instead of fearing it, noting that adaptability and technological awareness will define employability in the years ahead.
