EDITORIAL: Bursting the unemployment bubble
The recent scramble for voter registration jobs at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) - where 82 976 jobless people applied for 3 280 available posts - is a serious reminder of the unemployment crisis facing the country.
The situation remains so dire that our people are ready to take up any job, no matter how big or small. There are even situations where some put aside their degrees when applying for jobs they are overqualified for.
The high unemployment rate, estimated to be fast-approaching the 50% mark, has the potential to cause serious social unrest and socioeconomic challenges.
Government must devise workable strategies to arrest the situation, which has seemingly already gotten out of hand.
There is a need to expand the labour market by investing in industries that are capable of unlocking mass jobs. This can range from agriculture and mining to sports. As a country, we are not doing enough to harness the potential these industries hold. Without pursuing new job avenues, we will not be able to meet the country’s employment needs.
Fishing has for years provided thousands of jobs, and now that the industry finds itself in a lull, jobs are also starting to disappear.
The same goes for mining. The planned closure of B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine will have a devastating impact on those employed there.
Over the years, the overdependence on sectors such as mining and fisheries has made us forget about the importance of diversifying our labour market.
The situation remains so dire that our people are ready to take up any job, no matter how big or small. There are even situations where some put aside their degrees when applying for jobs they are overqualified for.
The high unemployment rate, estimated to be fast-approaching the 50% mark, has the potential to cause serious social unrest and socioeconomic challenges.
Government must devise workable strategies to arrest the situation, which has seemingly already gotten out of hand.
There is a need to expand the labour market by investing in industries that are capable of unlocking mass jobs. This can range from agriculture and mining to sports. As a country, we are not doing enough to harness the potential these industries hold. Without pursuing new job avenues, we will not be able to meet the country’s employment needs.
Fishing has for years provided thousands of jobs, and now that the industry finds itself in a lull, jobs are also starting to disappear.
The same goes for mining. The planned closure of B2Gold’s Otjikoto Mine will have a devastating impact on those employed there.
Over the years, the overdependence on sectors such as mining and fisheries has made us forget about the importance of diversifying our labour market.
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Namibian Sun
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