Introduction

Unemployment: Activities

1. An unemployed person is any person that is not working.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

To be classified as unemployed, a person must not only be without work, but must be willing and able to work and between the ages of 15 and 64.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

To be classified as unemployed, a person must not only be without work, but must be willing and able to work and between the ages of 15 and 64.

2. The unemployment rate is calculated by expressing the number of _______ persons as a percentage of the_______.

Incorrect.

The unemployment rate is calculated by expressing the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force.

Incorrect.

The unemployment rate is calculated by expressing the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force.

Correct.

The unemployment rate is calculated by expressing the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force.

3. Siphwe is a male aged 24 who is without a job, willing and able to work and actively searching for a job. He is therefore classified as unemployed according to the _______ definition of unemployment.

Correct.

According to the strict definition, a person must also actively search for work.

Incorrect.

According to the expanded definition, a person need not be actively searching for work to be classified as unemployed.

4. Anna is a female aged 32 who is without a job, willing and able to work but not actively searching for a job. She is therefore classified as unemployed according to the _______ definition of unemployment.

Incorrect.

To be classified as unemployed according to the strict definition of unemployment, a person must actively search for work.

Correct.

According to the expanded definition, a person need not be actively searching for work to be classified as unemployed.

5. South Africa uses only the strict definition of unemployment in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

Correct. The statement is true.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey only provides an estimate of unemployment based on the strict definition. It is, however, possible to calculate unemployment based on the expanded definition from information provided about discouraged workers in the report.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

The Quarterly Labour Force Survey only provides an estimate of unemployment based on the strict definition. It is, however, possible to calculate unemployment based on the expanded definition from information provided about discouraged workers in the report.

6. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, a valid reason for not actively searching for a job is that the person was unable to find work requiring his/her skill.

Correct. The statement is indeed true.

Being unable to find a job fitting your skills is a valid reason for not actively searching for a job.

Incorrect. The statement is true.

Being unable to find a job fitting your skills is a valid reason for not actively searching for a job.

7. A discouraged work-seeker is a person who is not able to find a job at a wage he/she wishes to earn.

Incorrect. The statement is false.

A discouraged work-seeker is a person who was not employed during the reference period, wanted to work, was available to work/start a business but did not take active steps to find work during the last four weeks, provided that the main reason given for not seeking work was any of the following: no jobs available in the area; unable to find work requiring his/her skills; lost hope of finding any kind of work.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

A discouraged work-seeker is a person who was not employed during the reference period, wanted to work, was available to work/start a business but did not take active steps to find work during the last four weeks, provided that the main reason given for not seeking work was any of the following: no jobs available in the area; unable to find work requiring his/her skills; lost hope of finding any kind of work.

8. How many people were unemployed during the period Oct-Dec 2019?

Correct.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 6 726 000 people were unemployed.

Incorrect.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 6 726 000 people were unemployed.

9. What was the unemployment rate for the period Oct-Dec 2019?

%

Correct. It was 29,1%.

The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed (6 726 000) by the labour force (23 146 000) x 100.

Unemployment rate = 6 726 000/23 146 000 x 100 = 29,1%

Incorrect. It was 29,1%.

The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed (6 726 000) by the labour force (23 146 000) x 100.

Unemployment rate = 6 726 000/23 146 000 x 100 = 29,1%

10. How many people were regarded as discouraged work-seekers for the period Oct-Dec 2019?

Correct.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 2 855 000 people were regarded as discouraged work-seekers.

Incorrect.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 2 855 000 people were regarded as discouraged work-seekers.

11. How many people were unemployed if discouraged work-seekers are included for the period Oct-Dec 2019?

Correct.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 9 851 000 people were unemployed if discouraged work-seekers are included. This figure is calculated by adding the number of unemployed (6 726 000) to the number of discouraged work-seekers (2 855 000) = 9 581 000.

Incorrect.

During the period Oct-Dec 2019, 9 851 000 people were unemployed if discouraged work-seekers are included. This figure is calculated by adding the number of unemployed (6 726 000) to the number of discouraged work-seekers (2 855 000) = 9 581 000.

12. What was the unemployment rate if discouraged work-seekers are included for the period Oct-Dec 2019?

%

Correct. The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed by the labour force x 100.

In this case the number of unemployed is 9 581 000 – this is the figure for the unemployed, according to the strict definition, of 6 726 000 plus the discouraged work-seekers of 2 855 000. The labour force in this case is the labour force, according to the strict definition, of 23 146 plus the discouraged work-seekers of 2 8555 000 = 26 001 000.

Unemployment rate = 9 851 000/26 001 00 x 100 = 36,8%

Incorrect. The unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed by the labour force x 100.

In this case the number of unemployed is 9 581 000 – this is the figure for the unemployed, according to the strict definition, of 6 726 000 plus the discouraged work-seekers of 2 855 000. The labour force in this case is the labour force, according to the strict definition, of 23 146 plus the discouraged work-seekers of 2 8555 000 = 26 001 000.

Unemployment rate = 9 851 000/26 001 00 x 100 = 36,8%

13. Only a small portion of unemployed people register as unemployed.

Correct. The statement is indeed true.

The main reason people register as unemployed is to receive unemployment benefits which are only payable to people qualifying for them and for a short period.

Incorrect. The statement is true.

Correct. The main reason people register as unemployed is to receive unemployment benefits which are only payable to people qualifying for them and for a short period.

14. Although the level of registered unemployment is insignificant, changes in registered unemployment (if available) are regarded as a good indicator of trends in the labour market and in economic activity in general.

Correct. The statement is indeed true.

Changes in registered unemployment are a good indicator of what is happening with unemployment in general.

Incorrect. The statement is true.

Changes in registered unemployment are a good indicator of what is happening with unemployment in general.

15. A person who is employed only as a fruit packer during the fruit season but wishes to work during the other months is an example of …

Correct.

A visibly underemployed person is someone who involuntarily works less than full time.

Incorrect.

An invisibly underemployed person is someone whose skills are underutilised.

16. According to the Statistical Release P0211 Quarterly Labour Force Survey for Quarter 4:2019, there were 436 000 visibly underemployed people and 331 000 invisibly underemployed people.

http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0211/P02114thQuarter2019.pdf

Incorrect. The statement is false.

According to the QLFS, 436 000 women and 331 000 men were visibly underemployed. It does not provide figures for invisible underemployment.

Correct. The statement is indeed false.

According to the QLFS, 436 000 women and 331 000 men were visibly underemployed. It does not provide figures for invisible underemployment.