• By Hilja Shikongo

Over 17,000 Namibians have actively used the Namibia Integrated Employment Information System (NIEIS) between January 2024 and April this year. 

NIEIS is an online government system designed to assist jobseekers to apply for employment opportunities in private and public institutions. This figure was shared by the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations this week, following Confidente’s inquiry into the system’s performance.

According to ministry spokes-person Maria Hedimbi, a total of 17,931 jobseekers submitted applications via the NIEIS platform. While only 1,708 placements have been formally recorded, the ministry believes the actual number may be higher due to incomplete reporting by employers and jobseekers.

“The ministry is currently experiencing a challenge of some employers not reporting recruitment done through the System,” Hedimbi explained. She noted many users also fail to update their employment status once hired. Despite these hurdles, the NIEIS platform remains a cornerstone of the government’s effort to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers, she noted.

Hedimbi said the ministry has embarked on a comprehensive upgrade of the NIEIS system to enhance user experience, stream-
line registration, and improve the tracking and reporting of job placements. “The ministry is busy upgrading the system to address all noted functional shortcomings,” Hedimbi said.

She stressed that the goal is to create a smoother, more effective process for both job seekers and employers. NIEIS allows users to create profiles, upload CVs with relevant documents and apply for vacancies available on the system. 

“The platform remains a vital tool,” Hedimbi emphasized.She also expressed hope that the new improvements will lead to more accurate data and better job-matching outcomes in the future.

According to a Labour Force Thematic Report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) in January this year, the national unemployment rate stands at 36.9%. The NSA clarified that this figure, released on 29 January 2025, is the official unemployment rate of the country. It is based on International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards, as adopted at the 19th International Confer-ence of Labour Statisticians (19thICLS).

Some jobseekers have shared their experiences using NIEIS platform. Patience Gowases, who has used the site multiple times,
said she has never secured a job through it and feels the platform functions more as a noticeboard than a practical job application
tool.

“I never get responses to my applications, but at least the system is always accessible,” she said. Similarly, Queen Ankome mentioned that although she was once invited for an interview after applying for a job via NIEIS, she did not land
the position. 

Meanwhile, Ottilie Johannes also reported not having been offered a job through the platform but noted that she consistently receives confirmation emails after applying, an indication that her applications are being processed.