The Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), in partnership with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, recently held a policy dialogue under the theme “The jobless growth puzzle: Can Namibia unlock inclusive prosperity?” The event brought together senior government officials, economists, representatives of business and workers’ organizations, and university students to discuss how Namibia can transition from jobless growth to job-rich, inclusive development. The International Labour Organization (ILO), through the Global Accelerator for Jobs, Social Protection, and Just Transitions, provided technical insights and policy guidance based on its regional and global experiences in promoting integrated employment approaches.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Michael Humavindu, Executive Director in the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that Namibia’s steady economic growth over the years has not been sufficiently inclusive to create adequate employment opportunities. He outlined the government’s strategy to shift from “growth without jobs” to growth that generates decent work and sustainable prosperity. Dr. Humavindu highlighted key initiatives focused on strengthening value addition, improving industrial productivity, and expanding investment in emerging sectors such as renewable energy, agriculture, and tourism to foster job-rich growth.
Namibia’s economy has maintained an average annual growth rate of 3–5 percent over the past three decades, driven primarily by the mining and services sectors. However, this growth has failed to translate into sufficient employment creation. The labour market continues to face challenges such as low productivity, high informality, and a concentration of new jobs in low-wage, insecure sectors. According to ILO Employment Specialist Jealous Chirove, Namibia’s jobless growth stems largely from its capital-intensive industries like mining, oil, and gas, which contribute significantly to GDP but employ relatively few workers. Weak linkages between these industries and local supply chains, as well as limited support for small and medium enterprises, have further restricted broad-based job creation.
Chirove pointed out that Namibia’s main challenge lies not in the lack of sound policy frameworks but in weak implementation and coordination mechanisms. He recommended the institutionalization of Employment Impact Assessments (EMPIA) to evaluate the job creation potential of different sectors, ensuring that future growth policies are intentionally pro-employment. The dialogue forms part of broader UN-supported efforts under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, led by the ILO in collaboration with the FAO and UNDP, to help Namibia build an inclusive, job-rich economy that delivers decent work and shared prosperity for all.
