Home > Research Library > Research Library Publications > WIEGO Publication Series > Briefs > Statistical Briefs > Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey
Statistical Briefs

Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey

By on May 01, 2011

This briefing note discusses how the changes introduced in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) will affect:

(a) how the informal sector and informal employment are or can be defined for analysis purposes, and

(b) comparability of estimates based on QLFS data with earlier estimates based on Labour Force Survey (LFS) data.

Researchers James Heintz and Dorrit Posel produced estimates of both the informal sector and informal employment. Researcher Gabrielle Wills’ work focused on informal employment rather than on the informal sector.

This note discusses both concepts – informal sector and informal employment – in terms of question (a) above, but only informal employment in terms of question (b).

View list of all: Statistical Briefs

Download the PDF(this link opens in new window)

Citation Information

Budlender, Debbie. Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey. WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7, , . WIEGO, 2011. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdfBudlender, D. (2011). Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey. WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7, , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdfBudlender, Debbie. "Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey." WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7, WIEGO, 2011, .Budlender Debbie. "Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey." WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7 (2011). https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdfBudlender, D 2011, 'Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey', WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7, , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdfDebbie Budlender, 'Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey' (2011) WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7 Budlender D. Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey. WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7. 2011. https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdfBudlender, Debbie. Measuring Informal Employment in South Africa: The New Quarterly Labour Force Survey. WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 7. 2011. , . https://www.wiego.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Budlender_WIEGO_SB7.pdf

The WIEGO Research Library

WIEGO is at the forefront of developing statistics and research to help audiences understand the informal economy. Our library includes over two decades-worth of informal economy research, policy analysis, statistics and documentation of organizing efforts.

Explore