Introduction

Economically active population: Activities

1. Since the labour force or economically active population consists of people who are willing and able to work, it does not include unemployed people.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

It includes the unemployed since the unemployed are willing to work.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

It includes the unemployed since the unemployed are willing to work.

2. Which of the following people are part of the economically active population?

Refugees with a permit that allows them to work
People younger than 15
Self-employed people in the informal sector
Unemployed persons

Click to Show Answer

People younger than 15 are not part of the economically active population since this only includes people between the ages of 15 and 64.

Refugees with a permit to work, self-employed people in the informal sector and unemployed persons are all part of the labour force.

3. All the people between the ages of 15 and 64 are part of the economically active population.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

The economically active population or labour force is the total number of people between the ages of 15 and 64 who are willing and able to work. Not everyone between the ages of 15 and 64 are willing and able to work.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

The economically active population or labour force is the total number of people between the ages of 15 and 64 who are willing and able to work. Not everyone between the ages of 15 and 64 are willing and able to work.

4. An increase in the population between the ages of 10 and 14 years will increase the working age population.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

People younger than 15 are not part of the economically active population and an increase in the population between 10 and 14 years therefore does not influence the working age population. It will, however, influence the working age population in the future.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

People younger than 15 are not part of the economically active population and an increase in the population between 10 and 14 years therefore does not influence the working age population. It will, however, influence the working age population in the future.

5. The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing …

Incorrect.

The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population (people between the ages of 15 and 64).

Correct.

The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population (people between the ages of 15 and 64).

Incorrect.

The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population (people between the ages of 15 and 64).

Incorrect.

The labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population (people between the ages of 15 and 64).

6. If more people retire before the age of 65, the labour force participation rate will decrease.

Correct. The statement is indeed true.

If more people retire before the age of 65, the labour force decreases while the working age population remains unchanged. Since the labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population, the labour force participation rate declines.

Incorrect. The statement is true.

If more people retire before the age of 65, the labour force decreases while the working age population remains unchanged. Since the labour force participation rate is calculated by dividing the labour force by the working age population, the labour force participation rate declines.

7. If the labour force participation rate changes from 0,61 to 0,59, it implies that …

Incorrect.

A decline in the labour force participation rate indicates that a smaller fraction of the working age population is economically active. The labour force is therefore smaller.

Correct.

A decline in the labour force participation rate indicates that a smaller fraction of the working age population is economically active. The labour force is therefore smaller.

Activities 8 to 11 are based on the South African labour market for the period Jan–Mar 2019 as published in the statistical release P0211, Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Quarter 1:2019 (http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0211/P02111stQuarter2019.pdf)

8. Complete the following table:

  Population 15-64 years Labour force Labour force participation rate (%)
Both sexes      
Women      
Men      
Click to Show Answer
  Population 15-64 years Labour force Labour force participation rate (%)
Both sexes 38 283 000 22 492 000 58,75
Women 19 339 000 10 174 000 52,61
Men 18 944 000 12 319 000 65,03

9. There are more women between the ages of 15 and 64 than men and more women in the labour force than men.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

There are 19 339 000 women and 18 944 000 men between the ages of 15 and 64. There are therefore more women between the ages of 15 and 64 than men. In terms of the labour force there are 12 319 000 men and 10 174 000 women. In spite of the fact that there are more women between the ages of 15 and 64, there are fewer women in the labour force than men.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

There are 19 339 000 women and 18 944 000 men between the ages of 15 and 64. There are therefore more women between the ages of 15 and 64 than men. In terms of the labour force there are 12 319 000 men and 10 174 000 women. In spite of the fact that there are more women between the ages of 15 and 64, there are fewer women in the labour force than men.

10. The labour force participation rate for women is greater than the labour force participation rate for men.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

The labour force participation rate for women (52,61%) is less than the labour force participation rate for men (65,03%).

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

The labour force participation rate for women (52,61%) is less than the labour force participation rate for men (65,03%).

11. For which age group for the period Jan-March 2019 is the labour force participation rate the highest?

Incorrect. The age group 35 to 44 years has the highest labour force participation rate at 79,2%.

Jan-March 2019
Age Population (thousands) Labour force (thousands) LFPR (%)
15-24 10 297 2 553 24,8
25-34 10 035 7 375 73,5
35-44 8 215 6 505 79,2

Incorrect. The age group 35 to 44 years has the highest labour force participation rate at 79,2%.

Jan-March 2019
Age Population (thousands) Labour force (thousands) LFPR (%)
15-24 10 297 2 553 24,8
25-34 10 035 7 375 73,5
35-44 8 215 6 505 79,2

Correct. The age group 35 to 44 years has the highest labour force participation rate at 79,2%.

Jan-March 2019
Age Population (thousands) Labour force (thousands) LFPR (%)
15-24 10 297 2 553 24,8
25-34 10 035 7 375 73,5
35-44 8 215 6 505 79,2