Recession butchers jobs
A close look at the latest labour figures shows how the economy has affected permanent jobs, as well as its impact on informal and vulnerable employment.
Jo-Maré Duddy – From 2016 to 2018, Namibia’s total population increased by 3.8%, its population of working age expanded by 3.6%, the economically active population was 6.2% bigger, the total workforce grew by 7.2% and the broadly unemployed rose by 4.3%.
In numbers, Namibia’s total population of 2 413 643 grew by 89 255 people. The country’s population of working age is up 53 774 at 1 531 967. Its employed population of 725 742 is 48 857 workers bigger. People who are categorised as broadly unemployed, are 364 411 – 15 028 more than in 2016.
According to the latest Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS), compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Namibia’s official unemployment rate last year was 33.4%, slightly lower than the 34% in 2016.
Seemingly, this is where the good news stops.
Youth unemployment shot up from 43.4% to 46.1%.
People aged 15 to 34 rose by 2.6% to 876 908 – 22 341 more than two years ago. However, the 310 854 young people who had jobs were 3% less than 2016. The 265 770 without work were nearly 8% more than 2016.
A total of 17 792 young people with tertiary education ranging from diplomas, university degrees and postgraduate qualifications were jobless – 5.8% of the total youth not in education and not in employment or training (NEET). In 2016, the figure was 4.7%.
Red stats
People with permanent jobs dropped by more than 29 000 or nearly 11%. The 243 025 people permanently employed represented about a third of the total workforce. In 2016, it was about 40%.
People appointed for a limited duration were around 21 000 less. The 61 161 workers in this category were some 8% of the total workforce. Two years ago, it was around 12%.
The workforce of informal employment shrunk by more than 31 000 or nearly 7%. Whereas the 418 674 people in informal employment made up 66.5% of the total workforce, they last year represented 57.7%.
Unlike people in formal employment, those in informal employment aren’t offered a pension scheme, medical aid and social security by their employers.
Last year, 39% of the total workforce received paid leave, compared to 47% in 2016. Nearly 37% was entitled to paid sick leave as opposed to 43% in 2016.
The 229 144 people in vulnerable employment – own account workers, subsistence or communal farmers and unpaid family workers – increased by more than 64 000 or nearly 39%. Most of them were own account workers or self-employed (44%), followed by subsistence and communal farmers (41%).
The NLFS states that the rate of vulnerability is 31.6%. “It is a measure of those with relatively precarious working situations,” the NSA says. The rate for 2016 was 24.4%.
Wages
The average monthly wage for employees in 2018 was N$7 935, N$1 176 or 17% more than 2016. Men on average earned 3% more than women. The mean monthly wage for men was N$8 052 compared to N$7 789 for women.
Employees aged 55 to 59 on average earned the most, with a mean monthly salary of N$12 662, nearly 18% more than 2016. They were followed by workers aged 50 to 54 (N$11 655); 45 to 49 (N$10 595); and 40 to 44 (N$10 005).
Workers aged 15 to 19 earned the lowest wages. Their average monthly wage of N$1 113 dropped by 8% compared to 2016.
Employees in the financial and insurance industry were the best paid, earning on average N$20 459 per month.
Other well-paid jobs were in mining and quarrying (N$17 963), electricity and related industries (N$17 795), information and communication (N$17 139) and education (N$15 380).
Employees of public administration, defence and compulsory social services on average earned N$12 580 per month.
Private households, which includes domestic workers, paid the lowest wage of an average of N$1 387 per month.
Biggest employers
As in 2016, agriculture (subsistence and communal included), forestry and fishing were the biggest employers last year. A total of 167 242 people were employed in these sectors, 23% more than 2016. Last year, these sectors provided employment to 23% of the total workforce compared to 20% in 2016.
The 2018 figure is broken down into: employees (46 751), employers (13 667), self-employed (87 091), unpaid family workers (11 937) and workers not classified by status (7 796).
The average monthly wage in these sectors was N$3 393, nearly 51% more than 2016.
Accommodation and food service sectors were the second biggest employers, providing jobs to 83 056 people – an increase of nearly 74% compared to 2016.
The figure comprises of: employees (31 305), employers (5 743), self-employed (38 041), unpaid family workers (4 671) and workers not classified by status (3 296).
The mean monthly wage paid was N$2 819, 5% less than 2016.
The third biggest employer was wholesale and retail trade with 80 852 workers, up 24% from 2016.
The figure consists of: employees (53 779), employers (5 079), self-employed (19 142), unpaid family workers (2 518) and workers not classified by status (334).
The sector paid an average monthly wage of N$4 019, 4% lower than 2016.
In numbers, Namibia’s total population of 2 413 643 grew by 89 255 people. The country’s population of working age is up 53 774 at 1 531 967. Its employed population of 725 742 is 48 857 workers bigger. People who are categorised as broadly unemployed, are 364 411 – 15 028 more than in 2016.
According to the latest Namibia Labour Force Survey (NLFS), compiled by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Namibia’s official unemployment rate last year was 33.4%, slightly lower than the 34% in 2016.
Seemingly, this is where the good news stops.
Youth unemployment shot up from 43.4% to 46.1%.
People aged 15 to 34 rose by 2.6% to 876 908 – 22 341 more than two years ago. However, the 310 854 young people who had jobs were 3% less than 2016. The 265 770 without work were nearly 8% more than 2016.
A total of 17 792 young people with tertiary education ranging from diplomas, university degrees and postgraduate qualifications were jobless – 5.8% of the total youth not in education and not in employment or training (NEET). In 2016, the figure was 4.7%.
Red stats
People with permanent jobs dropped by more than 29 000 or nearly 11%. The 243 025 people permanently employed represented about a third of the total workforce. In 2016, it was about 40%.
People appointed for a limited duration were around 21 000 less. The 61 161 workers in this category were some 8% of the total workforce. Two years ago, it was around 12%.
The workforce of informal employment shrunk by more than 31 000 or nearly 7%. Whereas the 418 674 people in informal employment made up 66.5% of the total workforce, they last year represented 57.7%.
Unlike people in formal employment, those in informal employment aren’t offered a pension scheme, medical aid and social security by their employers.
Last year, 39% of the total workforce received paid leave, compared to 47% in 2016. Nearly 37% was entitled to paid sick leave as opposed to 43% in 2016.
The 229 144 people in vulnerable employment – own account workers, subsistence or communal farmers and unpaid family workers – increased by more than 64 000 or nearly 39%. Most of them were own account workers or self-employed (44%), followed by subsistence and communal farmers (41%).
The NLFS states that the rate of vulnerability is 31.6%. “It is a measure of those with relatively precarious working situations,” the NSA says. The rate for 2016 was 24.4%.
Wages
The average monthly wage for employees in 2018 was N$7 935, N$1 176 or 17% more than 2016. Men on average earned 3% more than women. The mean monthly wage for men was N$8 052 compared to N$7 789 for women.
Employees aged 55 to 59 on average earned the most, with a mean monthly salary of N$12 662, nearly 18% more than 2016. They were followed by workers aged 50 to 54 (N$11 655); 45 to 49 (N$10 595); and 40 to 44 (N$10 005).
Workers aged 15 to 19 earned the lowest wages. Their average monthly wage of N$1 113 dropped by 8% compared to 2016.
Employees in the financial and insurance industry were the best paid, earning on average N$20 459 per month.
Other well-paid jobs were in mining and quarrying (N$17 963), electricity and related industries (N$17 795), information and communication (N$17 139) and education (N$15 380).
Employees of public administration, defence and compulsory social services on average earned N$12 580 per month.
Private households, which includes domestic workers, paid the lowest wage of an average of N$1 387 per month.
Biggest employers
As in 2016, agriculture (subsistence and communal included), forestry and fishing were the biggest employers last year. A total of 167 242 people were employed in these sectors, 23% more than 2016. Last year, these sectors provided employment to 23% of the total workforce compared to 20% in 2016.
The 2018 figure is broken down into: employees (46 751), employers (13 667), self-employed (87 091), unpaid family workers (11 937) and workers not classified by status (7 796).
The average monthly wage in these sectors was N$3 393, nearly 51% more than 2016.
Accommodation and food service sectors were the second biggest employers, providing jobs to 83 056 people – an increase of nearly 74% compared to 2016.
The figure comprises of: employees (31 305), employers (5 743), self-employed (38 041), unpaid family workers (4 671) and workers not classified by status (3 296).
The mean monthly wage paid was N$2 819, 5% less than 2016.
The third biggest employer was wholesale and retail trade with 80 852 workers, up 24% from 2016.
The figure consists of: employees (53 779), employers (5 079), self-employed (19 142), unpaid family workers (2 518) and workers not classified by status (334).
The sector paid an average monthly wage of N$4 019, 4% lower than 2016.
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