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Unemployment Rate and Number
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Concepts and Definitions

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 ​Unemployed Persons refer to persons aged fifteen years and over who during the reference period were:

imas ​ ​ ​ not working, i.e. were not in salaried or self employment; but were
imas ​ ​ ​ actively looking for a job; and
imas  ​ ​ available for work. 

They include persons who are not working but are taking steps to start their own business or taking up a new job after the reference period.

Unemployment Rate is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons to the labour force (i.e. those working or seeking work) aged fifteen years and over.​


The concepts and definitions used conform to international guidelines recommended by the International Labour Organisation.

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