Youth unemployment in Namibia
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Date
2005
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Abstract
The labour market in Namibia is characterized by a number of serious imbalances, notably between aggregate demand for and supply of labour, and between the skills required and those on offer. Unemployment is therefore one of the most serious problems in Namibia especially among youth
This study set out to identify and analyse the factors that have been responsible for high unemployment among youth and the influence of the labour market policies in Namibia. The current high unemployment rate is mostly attributed to the low education levels among the economically active population and economic structure (exports of unprocessed primary products). In Namibia, 15 percent of the population have no formal education at all and more than half of the population (54 percent) have only completed or attained some level of primary education
Only 2 percent have reached higher education. Youth unemployment is also exacerbated by the re-admission and age limits policy imposed for junior secondary education in Namibia. Students over the age of 17 who fail grade l0 are not allowed to repeat this level in the formal educational system, but should look for alternative educational institutions, which are often too expensive for their parents to afford. Thus, many youths tend to drop out of school at this level and join the ranks of the unemployed
Another reason is that the acquisition of skills and experience of the present generation of youth is an important factor in explaining future social and economic development. Youth unemployment, especially if it is persistent, excludes an important part of the labour force from participation in the economy and thus limits the capacity for growth
Description
Theses submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Administration
Keywords
Unemployment, Labour market, Labour demand, Labour economics, Labour supply, Labour policy