Question NW4187 to the Minister of Employment and Labour
11 December 2023 - NW4187
Cardo, Dr MJ to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
Whether he will furnish Dr M J Cardo with a granular level breakdown of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey data of the third quarter of 2023 released on 14 November 2023, up to a municipal level, including (a) the number of the (i) employed and (ii) unemployed and (b) the labour force participation rate for each municipality, specifically the municipalities of (i) Oudtshoorn (ii) Swellendam and (iii) Nama Khoi; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the detailed statistics for each specified municipality in each specified category?
Reply:
In the country, Statistics South Africa (Statssa) is the primary official statistical agency in line with the Statistical Act. Every quarter, it releases the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) results that provide statistical information on the changes in labour market activities both quarter to quarter and year on year changes. In QLFS 3 of 2023, the labour market activities were based on a sample size that was approximately 30 000 dwelling units. In this context, the response rates are only estimated at the provincial and metropolitan areas.
Regarding the granular level breakdown for all indicators mentioned by Honourable Dr M J Cardo, it is safe to indicate that such level of data details is not published in the QLFS. One key reason is associated with the sample size that is too small for reliable estimates in particular for all values of 10 000 or lower. This means each specified municipality for each specified group could not have reliable estimates because of the low response rates in each case. Thus, the granular level breakdown up to the municipality results are not estimated and released.
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