The ‘Agriculture, forestry, and fishing’ industry is Namibia’s biggest employer, accounting for 16.1 percent of the workforce, with a predominantly male workforce at 23.1 percent compared to 7.6 percent for females.
According to the recently released Labour Force Report, other significant sectors are wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; manufacturing; and administrative and support service activities, which employed 10.0, 9.8, and 9.3 percent of all workers, respectively.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employment as a percentage of the total employed population is a key indicator under SDG-2, which focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
It highlights the significance of these sectors in providing livelihoods, especially in rural and developing areas, and reflects their role in food production and environmental sustainability.
“The proportion of people employed in this industry was significantly higher in rural areas (38.6%) compared to urban areas with 5.2 percent. Within rural areas, males dominated the sector, accounting for 50.6 percent of employment, while females represented 17.4 percent. The Omaheke region had the highest proportion of people employed in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry, followed by the Kunene region with 39.0 percent and 36.5 percent, respectively. In contrast, the Khomas region had the lowest share at 4.3 percent,” the report affirms.
The Number and Percentage Share of Population Employed in the Agriculture Industry by Area and Sex. The results show that, at the national level, 13.0 percent of the employed population worked in this industry. Among them, a larger proportion were males (19.1%) compared to females (5.6%). The proportion of people employed in this industry was significantly higher in rural areas (34.0%) compared to urban areas with 2.8 percent.
On the other hand, manufacturing employment as a percentage of the total employed population is an important indicator under SDG-9, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation. It is significant because manufacturing is often seen as a driver of economic growth, technological innovation, and employment opportunities.
“At national level, 53,491 persons were employed in manufacturing, making up 9.8 percent of the total employed population. In urban areas, males dominated the sector with 11.8 percent compared to 7.4 percent for females. Rural areas were lowest with 5.7 percent for males and 5.2 percent for females. At the regional level, the highest employment in manufacturing was observed in Erongo at 16.7 percent, while the lowest was in Kavango West with 5.7 percent,” reads the report.
The same report also revealed that the unemployment rate increased from 33.4 percent in 2018 to 36.9 percent in 2023.
The unemployment rate is expressed as a percentage of the unemployed population to the total labour force. The unemployment rate is widely regarded as one of the key labour market indicators and a good measure of employment creation and participation in economic activities in the country. A lower unemployment rate signifies an economy having the capacity to absorb available people of working age, while a higher rate signifies an economy that is unable to absorb available people of working age.
The result of the regional unemployment rate showed that the rate was highest in Kavango West (52.8%), Kavango East (52.0%) and Ohangwena (47.2%) regions. The lowest unemployment rate was recorded in //Kharas region with 29.7 percent. Furthermore, generally the unemployment rate was higher for females than males for all regions except in Ohangwena, Omusati, and Oshana.
“The unemployment rates are notably higher among younger persons, particularly in the 15-19 age group, where the unemployment rate reaches 57.7 percent. The Unemployment rates decrease significantly with age, dropping to 19.4 percent for those 55-59 years and it slightly increased for those 60-64 years and 65 years and above. Females generally experience higher unemployment rates across most age groups compared to males, with the total female unemployment rate at 39.6 percent versus 34.6 percent for males,” notes the report.
The results also showed that people with primary education have the highest unemployment rate (42.6%) followed by those with secondary education with an unemployment rate (41.2%). It is worth noting that those with tertiary education have the lowest unemployment rate of 17.7 percent.