The Jobpocalypse is not coming – It’s already here
By Celeste Nangolo /
We used to talk about the future of work like it was something far away. Something our children would have to worry about.
But let’s be honest: it’s already here. The jobpocalypse isn’t a distant storm on the horizon. It’s happening right now, quietly reshaping the way we live, work, and survive.
Jobs are disappearing. Not because people aren’t trying hard enough, but because the world is changing faster than we ever imagined. Machines are doing things we thought only humans could do. Algorithms are making decisions, writing reports, even handling customer service.
And while that sounds like progress, it’s also deeply unsettling.
In Namibia, we’re feeling the pressure. Young people are graduating into a job market that’s shrinking. Many are stuck in roles that may not exist in five years. Others are watching their industries change overnight, with no clear roadmap for what comes next.
It’s not just about unemployment anymore: it’s about irrelevance. That’s the real danger. Being left behind not because you didn’t work hard, but because the rules changed and no one told you.
We need to stop waiting for things to go back to “normal.”
That version of normal is gone. The old way of thinking, study hard, get a job, stay there until retirement, is fading fast. We need to start asking different questions. Not “What job can I get?” but “What value can I bring?” That shift in mindset is everything.
The people who will thrive aren’t necessarily the smartest or the most qualified. They’re the ones who stay curious. Who learn new things. Who aren’t afraid to start over.
Relevance is the new job security. If you can adapt, you can survive.
If you can solve problems, you’ll always be needed. For companies, this means hiring differently. Training differently. Looking beyond CVs and degrees.
It means building teams that can grow, not just perform. Because the truth is, the best person for the job might not exist yet; you might have to help them become that person. And for each of us, it means taking charge of our own growth.
No one’s coming to save us. Not our employers, not the government, not even our qualifications. We have to be our own rescue plan. Learn. Unlearn. Relearn. Repeat. This isn’t the end of work. It’s the start of something new.
Something more flexible, more creative, maybe even more fulfilling. But only if we’re willing to evolve. The jobpocalypse doesn’t have to be a disaster. It can be a wake-up call. A chance to build a workforce that’s ready for whatever comes next.
We need to stop thinking of jobs as fixed destinations. They’re not. They’re evolving ecosystems. And we need to evolve with them. That means embracing digital skills, yes, but also human ones. Empathy. Creativity. Collaboration.
These are the things machines can’t replicate. These are the things that will keep us relevant.
So, let’s stop waiting for the future. It’s already here. And the only way through it is forward.
– Celeste Nangolo is the Human Capital Manager, at Old Mutual Namibia.
