Kavango East unemployment rate rises to 52% – NSA

The unemployment rate in the Kavango East region has increased from 48% in 2011 to 52% in 2023.

This is according to data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) from the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

NSA senior statistician Tommy Harris during the official launch of the 2023 Census Regional Profiles at Rundu on Tuesday said 48% of the population in the Kavango East is currently employed, while 52% remain unemployed.

Youth unemployment in the region remains particularly high, with only 39.6% of young people employed, and 60.4% unemployed.

Breaking down the statistics by constituency, Harris said the Ndiyona constituency has the highest unemployment rate in the region at 65.2%, followed by the Rundu Rural and Mukwe constituencies.

Ndiyona also leads in youth unemployment, recording a rate of 73%, followed closely by Mukwe at 72% and Rundu Rural at 71%.

In terms of employment sectors, Harris said the majority of employed individuals in the region are engaged in elementary occupations, such as domestic work, which accounts for around 90%.

This is followed by employment in professional services and sales, with most of the workforce concentrated in the education, agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors.

Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka, also speaking at the event, highlighted that the Kavango East region is now home to 218 421 people.

He emphasised the importance of the data, saying it will guide better planning, resource allocation, and progress tracking.

“This is not just a milestone, it’s a call to action. I urge all our regional stakeholders, including government offices, local authorities, civil society organisations, private sector institutions, and our communities, to take ownership of this information,” he said.

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