NSA comes out swinging in defence unemployment figure
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) has strongly defended the credibility of its 2023 labour force report, released on 29 January, dismissing claims of data manipulation and reaffirming that the official unemployment rate of 36.9% adheres to international standards.
Statistician-General and CEO of the NSA, Alex Shimuafeni, assured the public that the report aligns with the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and the requirements of the Statistics Act, making it a reliable source for national planning.
“The unemployment rate of 36.9% released by the NSA is the official figure as per ILO standards, based on the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). When international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, SADC, or AU request Namibia’s official unemployment rate, this is the figure that will be provided,” Shimuafeni stated.
He explained that unemployment definitions are not determined arbitrarily but are set by international labour statisticians. The 2023 labour force survey applied the strict unemployment definition adopted under the 19th ICLS, which differs from the broad definition used in the 2018 survey under the 13th ICLS resolution.
“The broad definition of unemployment includes individuals who are without work and available for employment but have not actively sought work during the reference period. The strict definition, however, only includes those who are unemployed, available, and actively searching for employment,” he clarified.
Despite the change in methodology, the NSA maintains that the official unemployment rate has increased from 33.4% in 2018 to 36.9% in 2023.
Rebutting allegations of data manipulation
Shimuafeni rejected accusations that the NSA “cooked” the figures, asserting that the data is transparent and verifiable. “Anyone who wishes to review how these percentages were calculated is welcome to engage with us. Additionally, we worked closely with the ILO to ensure that the unemployment definition was applied correctly,” he said.
The NSA also addressed confusion regarding a 54.8% figure circulating in public discourse, clarifying that this percentage represents the combined total of the 36.9% unemployment rate and the 17.9% potential labour force rate. The potential labour force consists of individuals who are not formally unemployed but exhibit some level of labour market attachment, such as discouraged job seekers and students nearing graduation who are willing to work but have not yet actively applied.
Labour force contraction
The report noted a significant reduction in the workforce, with the number of employed individuals dropping from 725,742 in 2018 to 546,805 in 2023. The overall labour force, comprising both employed and unemployed individuals, also declined from 1,090,153 to 867,247.
“This does not automatically mean that the unemployment rate has increased due to job losses alone. Labour force status can change at any time, with individuals moving between employment, unemployment, and the potential labour force,” Shimuafeni explained.
The NSA says it remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering accurate and internationally recognized labour statistics. As Namibia grapples with rising unemployment, policymakers and stakeholders are expected to use these findings to inform job creation strategies and economic reforms. - [email protected]
Statistician-General and CEO of the NSA, Alex Shimuafeni, assured the public that the report aligns with the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and the requirements of the Statistics Act, making it a reliable source for national planning.
“The unemployment rate of 36.9% released by the NSA is the official figure as per ILO standards, based on the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS). When international organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, SADC, or AU request Namibia’s official unemployment rate, this is the figure that will be provided,” Shimuafeni stated.
He explained that unemployment definitions are not determined arbitrarily but are set by international labour statisticians. The 2023 labour force survey applied the strict unemployment definition adopted under the 19th ICLS, which differs from the broad definition used in the 2018 survey under the 13th ICLS resolution.
“The broad definition of unemployment includes individuals who are without work and available for employment but have not actively sought work during the reference period. The strict definition, however, only includes those who are unemployed, available, and actively searching for employment,” he clarified.
Despite the change in methodology, the NSA maintains that the official unemployment rate has increased from 33.4% in 2018 to 36.9% in 2023.
Rebutting allegations of data manipulation
Shimuafeni rejected accusations that the NSA “cooked” the figures, asserting that the data is transparent and verifiable. “Anyone who wishes to review how these percentages were calculated is welcome to engage with us. Additionally, we worked closely with the ILO to ensure that the unemployment definition was applied correctly,” he said.
The NSA also addressed confusion regarding a 54.8% figure circulating in public discourse, clarifying that this percentage represents the combined total of the 36.9% unemployment rate and the 17.9% potential labour force rate. The potential labour force consists of individuals who are not formally unemployed but exhibit some level of labour market attachment, such as discouraged job seekers and students nearing graduation who are willing to work but have not yet actively applied.
Labour force contraction
The report noted a significant reduction in the workforce, with the number of employed individuals dropping from 725,742 in 2018 to 546,805 in 2023. The overall labour force, comprising both employed and unemployed individuals, also declined from 1,090,153 to 867,247.
“This does not automatically mean that the unemployment rate has increased due to job losses alone. Labour force status can change at any time, with individuals moving between employment, unemployment, and the potential labour force,” Shimuafeni explained.
The NSA says it remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering accurate and internationally recognized labour statistics. As Namibia grapples with rising unemployment, policymakers and stakeholders are expected to use these findings to inform job creation strategies and economic reforms. - [email protected]
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