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What is the difference between the official unemployment rate and the expanded rate?

South Africa’s official unemployment rate was 33.9% in the second quarter of 2022. It means that 33.9% of the labour force, aged 15 to 64, was without work, available for work and looking for work or trying to start a business. This is also known as the narrow definition of unemployment.

The expanded definition of unemployment doesn’t require someone to be looking for a job. They just need to be without work and available for work. According to this broad definition, the unemployment rate was 44.1% in the second quarter of 2022.

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