By: Erastus Andreas
As Namibia continues to grapple with high youth unemployment, economists and young entrepreneurs say expanding economic opportunities will require more than creating formal jobs.
They said greater attention is needed on skills development, entrepreneurship promotion, and access to finance and markets.
Namibia’s young people continue to face difficulties entering the labour market, while others are turning to survival entrepreneurship as an alternative to formal employment.
However, aspiring entrepreneurs say a lack of funding, access to markets and high operating costs remain major barriers to turning business ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Speaking to The Village Newspaper, economist, Isak Ashiti, said Namibia’s dependence on sectors such as mining, fishing and agriculture limits the economy’s ability to absorb large numbers of young workers.
“Youth unemployment remains a significant challenge in Namibia due to a combination of structural, economic and social factors,” said Ashiti.
He said the country also faces a persistent mismatch between the skills young people acquire through education and those required by employers.
“Many young people graduate without the necessary vocational or technical skills, leading to high unemployment even among those with formal education,” he said.
Ashiti said Namibia needs to diversify its economy and invest in sectors that have the potential to create more employment opportunities.
He identified renewable energy, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and agro-processing, information and communication technology, and small-scale manufacturing as sectors with significant potential for young Namibians.
Ashiti also called for greater cooperation between government and the private sector to create graduate programmes that provide young people with practical work experience, mentorship and competitive remuneration.
He said employers should also be more willing to give young people opportunities despite their lack of experience, suggesting structured probation periods of three to six months as one way of allowing young workers to prove themselves.
“Employers need to shift their mindset and start believing in young employees without extensive experience,” Ashiti said.
He further called for education and vocational training to be better aligned with the needs of the labour market, while warning that corruption and nepotism can undermine young people’s access to opportunities.
While economists continue to debate ways of improving employment, some young Namibians are already attempting to create their own opportunities.
Transport and driving-school entrepreneur, Alex Paules Nekongo, said his decision to enter business was motivated by a desire to create something of his own rather than depend entirely on formal employment.
“I realised that I had skills and experience that could be turned into a sustainable business while also serving a real need in the community,” said Nekongo.
He said young entrepreneurs face several challenges, with access to finance being among the biggest.
“Many young people have good business ideas, but they do not have enough capital to start or expand their businesses,” he said.
Nekongo also highlighted the high cost of doing business, including fuel, vehicle maintenance, registration and equipment, as well as competition and difficulties accessing markets.
He said young entrepreneurs need more than financial assistance, stressing the importance of mentorship and business knowledge in areas such as financial management, marketing, customer service and compliance.
According to Nekongo, entrepreneurship can create employment beyond the individual business owner as enterprises grow.
“A business may start with one person, but as it grows, it can create opportunities for instructors, administrators, drivers, mechanics, marketers and many other people,” he said.
He encouraged young people not to wait only for formal employment but to identify problems within their communities and consider how their skills can be turned into businesses.
A similar approach is being taken by aspiring poultry farmer Angaleni Shilongo, who sees agriculture as an opportunity to generate income while contributing to food production.
Shilongo plans to produce both broilers and layers, allowing her to pursue short- and long-term income from the same business.
“I chose both broilers and layers because I want both fast and long-term income,” she said.
Shilongo said financing remains one of the biggest obstacles for young people with business ideas.
“You might have business ideas but the money to start is not available,” she said.
Shilongo also cites access to markets and land as challenges.
Shilongo said she left Windhoek for the north because she had access to land for her poultry project, although she expects access to markets to be more difficult.
“In Windhoek, the market could be good but the problem is there is no space for my project. Here in the north, I have access to the land but the market will be a challenge,” she said.
Her plan is to produce in the north and transport her products to towns where she hopes to find larger markets.
Shilongo encouraged unemployed young people to seek financial assistance and continue pursuing opportunities even after unsuccessful applications.
She pointed to institutions such as the National Youth Development Fund and Agribank as potential sources of support.
“Don’t sit at home waiting for employment, at least try your luck. If you apply and are not considered, don’t stop, continue applying until you succeed,” she said.
The experiences of Nekongo and Shilongo reflect Ashiti’s broader argument that tackling youth unemployment requires a combination of formal job creation and support for young people who want to create their own businesses.
While government and the private sector have a role to play through skills development, employment programmes, financing and market access, the three contributors also emphasised the need for young people to actively pursue available opportunities.
As Namibia seeks to reduce youth unemployment, stakeholders say creating a more diversified economy and strengthening support for young entrepreneurs could help young people move from being job seekers to becoming job creators.
