Unemployment is the total number of all persons above a specified age, who in ashort reference period were: not employed, available for work (either for paidwork or for self employment) and were seeking work (were actively searching foremployment or taking active steps towards self-employment).A person isunemployed if he or she desires employment but cannot find a job. The QuarterlyLabour Force Survey (QLFS) is a household-based sample survey conducted byStatistics South Africa (Stats SA). It collects data on the labour marketactivities of individuals aged 15 years or older who live in South Africa.Starting in 2005, Stats SA undertook a major revision of the Labour Force Survey(LFS) which was conducted twice per year since 2000. This revision resulted inchanges to the survey methodology, the survey questionnaire, the frequency ofdata collection and data releases, and the survey data capture and processingsystems. The redesigned labour market survey is the QLFS which is now theprincipal vehicle for disseminating labour market information on a quarterlybasis.