Young people are categorised in the age group of 16-30 in Namibia. They are the ablest age group of all. Therefore, youths deserve employment at their disposal from universities and colleges after graduation. My fantasy is imagining every graduate attaining jobs right away after graduation. My point of view is the laughable unemployment rate of Namibian youths, particularly among graduates.
An article, titled ‘Namibia’s unemployed graduate’s crisis’ by Rose-Mary Haufiku in the Windhoek Observer, a local newspaper, disclosed the following sensitive data on graduates. The latest university survey showed that 7 383 students graduated from the University of Namibia (Unam), Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and International University of Management (IUM) all together in 2020. It further depicted that there are currently 67 000 unemployed graduates in Namibia.
These statistics include three major universities alone. Counts from colleges, vocational training centres and other universities in Namibia were excluded. Consequently, thousands of graduates are still expected to saturate the working industry.
The phenomenon creates despondency among graduates in attaining jobs locally. For example, graduates will compete with thousands of other graduates for a single vacancy, which is an unfair competition. The about-to-saturate working industry of Namibia resembles an overpopulated nation, with depleted resources to support the needs of its population.
Investing in youth through employment and involving youths in leadership roles such as ministerial, managerial and directive roles is needed. Youth will re-direct the saturating Namibian working industry with their energy.
I hope companies consider employing young people than what currently happens. Organisations tend to employ much older workers than the youth because of work experience. Organisations should consider employable qualities such as energy, which is common in younger people. A house of energy is invested in young people, making them highly productive in workplaces.
Thousands of youthful citizens graduate every year, flocking into the work industry, which is saturating earlier. It is saturating because graduates are not guaranteed employment after graduation. The number of graduates is increasing while employment opportunities are constant and diminishing.
In general, young people plant fresh ideas into organisations, helping them to operate within the current trends. Organisational systems have massively been changed by digital technology. Ancient systems do not necessarily serve a purpose anymore. For example, ancient advertisement media, such as handout brochures, are gradually replaced by soft copy flyers. Covid-19 has increased the use of digital devices. Digital devices are acquainted among younger people, and less associated with older persons. Organisations should, therefore, consider employing the youth to effect the usage of digital devices.
Young people are able and energetic
Young people are the most energetic and productive in their age groups – meaning, they can work faster than any other age group, which makes it the correct idea of planting them in the industry. Reputable government parastatals should compulsorily introduce graduation programs, and learning institutions should host public lectures to engage the unemployed youths in current affairs. If the youth stays engaged through eye-opening public lectures, then it will disengage youths from social ills such as alcohol abuse and crime.
Qualified
Young people have qualifications. In the process of attaining qualifications, they have been trained and made ready for the job market. However, the work industry delays young people from using their trained skills by failing to employ more youth.
Tech savvy
Young people understand technology better. They were born in the era of the digital technology explosion. Digital technology is widely adopted in corporate and public organisations. Frankly, the elderly are less tech savvy. Currently, organisations have adopted digital technology in their operations, such as E-procurement, E-governance and E-commerce. Young people will do better within these transformational systems in organisations.
Young people simply just want to work
Young people simply just want to work. They desperately want to gain experience and are therefore likely to focus and perform better. Older employees have been employed for an extended time now, and they are likely to not be excited and energetic to work anymore; their mindsets tend to focus on retirement than the work itself.
In contrast, young people tend to envision the progress of organisations in the future, as they have expected more years to work for these organisations. Younger people are willing to accept any payment with less greed too. They simply just want to work.
It is high time that organisations urge the call of young people to apply for vacancies – and similarly, the organisations’ call of women and people from marginalised communities to apply for vacancies. Women and people from marginalised communities have been poorly represented in the work industry for a long time, which is why they are being called out to apply. As far as I am concerned, young people are poorly represented in the working industry too.