zaf-statssa-lmdsa-2023-v2 zaf-statssa-lmdsa-2023-v2 DataFirst 2026-07 NADA Version 2 Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa 2023 LMDSA 2023 zaf-statssa-lmdsa-2023-v1.1 Statistics South Africa MetadataEditor Labour Force Survey v1.1: Edited, anonymised dataset for public distribution South Africa The survey had national coverage. The lowest level of geographic aggregation is Province. Survey data Computer Assisted Personal Interview DataFirst lmdsa-2023-v1_1-metadata 0 175 Unique number Person number <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Survey date <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Stayed at least four nights <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Gender <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Male 2 Female Population group <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Black African 2 Coloured 3 Indian/Asian 4 White Marital status <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Married 2 Living together like husband and wife 3 Widow/Widower 4 Divorced or separated 5 Never married Highest education level <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Grade R/0 1 Grade 1/Sub A 2 Grade 2/Sub B 3 Grade 3/Standard 1 4 Grade 4/Standard 2 5 Grade 5/Standard 3 6 Grade 6/Standard 4 7 Grade 7/Standard 5 8 Grade 8/Standard 6/Form 1 9 Grade 9/Standard 7/Form 2 10 Grade 10/Standard 8/Form 3 11 Grade 11/Standard 9/Form 4 12 Grade 12/Standard 10/Form 5/Matric 13 NTC l/N1/NIC/(v) Level 2 14 NTC II/N2/NIC/(v) Level 3 15 NTC III/N3/NIC/(v) Level 4 16 N4/NTC 4 17 N5/NTC 5 18 N6/NTC 6 19 Certificate with less than Grade 12/Std 10 20 Diploma with less than Grade 12/Std 10 21 Certificate with Grade 12/Std 10 22 Diploma with Grade 12/Std 10 23 Higher Diploma 24 Post Higher Diploma (Masters, Doctoral Diploma) 25 Bachelors Degree 26 Bachelors Degree and Post Graduate Diploma 27 Honours Degree 28 Higher Degree (Masters/Phd) 29 Other 30 Do not know 98 No schooling Study field <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Agriculture or Renewable natural resources 2 Architecture or environmental design 3 Arts, Visual or Performing 4 Business, commerce and management studies 5 Communication 6 Computer science 7 Education, training or development 8 Engineering or engineering technology 9 Health care or health sciences 10 Home economics 11 Industrial arts, traders or technology 12 Languages, linguistic or literature 13 Law 14 Libraries or museums 15 Life sciences or physical sciences 16 Mathematical sciences 17 Military sciences 18 Philosophy, religion or theology 19 Physical education or leisure 20 Psychology 21 Public administration or social services 22 Social sciences or social studies 23 Other 24 Management 25 Marketing 26 Information technology and computer science 27 Finance, economics and accounting 28 Office administration 29 Electrical infrastructure construction 30 Civil engineering and building construction 31 Engineering 32 Primary agriculture 33 Hospitality 34 Tourism 35 Safety in society 36 Mechatronics 37 Education and development 38 Other 99 Unspecified Currently attending educational institution <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Education Institution <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Pre-school (including day care, crèche, Grade R and Pre-Grade R in an ECD Centre) 2 Ordinary School (including Grade R learners who attend a formal school, Grade 1–12 learners and learners in Special Class) 3 Special School 4 Further Education and Training College (FET) 5 Other College 6 Higher Education Institution (University/University of Technology) 7 Adult basic Education and Training Centre (ABET CENTRE) 8 Literacy classes (e.g. KHA RI GUDE, SANLI) 9 Home-based education/home schooling Person himself/herself responding <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Paid work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Own business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Unpaid work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Have paid work to return to <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Have own business to return to <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Have an unpaid work to return to <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Main reason absent from work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Health reasons 2 Vacation leave 3 Caring for family or others 4 Maternity or paternity leave 5 Other family/community obligations 6 Strike/Stay-away/Lockout 7 Problems with transport 8 Bad weather 9 Study or training leave 10 Unrest (violence) 11 Temporarily laid off/Reduction in economic activity 12 Seasonal work 13 Start a new job/business at a definite date in the future 14 Other reason Time absent from work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Within 3 months 2 After 3 months 3 Not sure to return Receive pay <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Look for work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Start business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Working/business arrangement <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Full-time 2 Part-time 3 Any working arrangement Registered <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Enquired <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Placed adverts <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Search job <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Sought assistance <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Start own business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Casual work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Financial assistance <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Nothing <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Have a job or start a business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No How soon are you expecting to start work or a business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Within 1 month or less 2 In more than 1 month to 3 months 3 In more than 3 months Liked to work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Reason for not working <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Scholar or student 2 Housewife/homemaker (family considerations/childcare) 3 Health reasons 4 Retired or too old for work 5 No desire to work 6 Too young to work 7 Pregnancy 8 Disabled or unable to work 9 Other How long been trying to find work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Less than 3 months 2 3 months – less than 6 months 3 6 months – less than 9 months 4 9 months – less than 1 year 5 1 year – less than 3 years 6 3 years – 5 years 7 More than 5 years 8 Do not know Activity before looking for work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Working 2 Managing a home 3 Going to school 4 Other Reason why not look for work or start business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Awaiting the seasonal work 2 Waiting to be recalled to former job 3 Health reasons 4 Pregnancy 5 Disabled or unable to work (handicapped) 6 Housewife/homemaker (Family considerations/Child care) 7 Undergoing training to help find work 8 No jobs available in the area 9 Lack of money to pay for transport to look for work 10 Unable to find work requiring his/her skills 11 Lost hope of finding any kind of work 12 No transport available 13 Scholar or student 14 Retired 15 Too old/young to work 16 Other reason Accept job if offered <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Started business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Reason not available for work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 scholar or student 2 Housewife/homemaker (Family considerations/Childcare) 3 Health reasons 4 Retired or too old for work 5 No desire to work 6 Too young to work 7 Pregnancy 8 Disabled or unable to work 9 Other How soon can you start work or a business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Within a week 2 Within two weeks 3 Within four weeks 4 Later than four weeks from now 5 No desire to work 6 Do not know 9 Unspecified Ever worked <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Time since last worked <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Less than 3 months 2 3 months – less than 6 months 3 6 months – less than 9 months 4 9 months – less than 1 year 5 1 year – less than 3 years 6 3 years – 5 years 7 More than 5 years 8 Do not know Main reason you stopped working <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Health reason 2 Caring for own children/relatives 3 Pregnancy 4 Other family/community responsibilities 5 Going to school 6 Lost job/job ended/laid off/business sold/closed down 7 Changed residence 8 Dissatisfied with the job 9 Retired 10 Other 99 Unspecified Previous occupation <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Previous industry <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Whom did you work for <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Working for someone else for pay 2 An employer (employing one or more employees) 3 Own account worker (not employing any employees) 4 Helping without pay in a household business 9 Unspecified Odd jobs <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Supported by persons in the household <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Supported by persons not in the household <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Charity <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Unemployment Insurance Fund <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Savings <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Pension <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Child support grant <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Welfare grants <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Other source of support <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know More than one job <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Occupation <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Industry <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Year stated <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Month started <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Main work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Working for someone else for pay 2 An employer (employing one or more employees) 3 Own account worker ( not employing any employees) 4 Helping without pay in a household business Contribution to pension or retirement fund <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Paid leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Paid leave sick leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Maternity/ paternity leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Paid vacation leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Paid sick leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Maternity/paternity leave <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know UIF Deductions <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Medical aid or health insurance contribution <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Registered for income tax <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Employment contract <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 A written contract 2 A verbal agreement Work status <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Limited duration 2 Permanent nature 3 Unspecified duration Trade union membership <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Salary increment <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Negotiation between myself and employer at company 2 Negotiation between union and employer 3 Bargaining council or other sector bargaining arrangement 4 Employer only 5 No regular annual salary increase 6 Other, specify Contract period <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Less than a year 2 1 year to less than 3 years 3 3 years or more 9 Unspecified Registered for VAT <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Registered for income tax <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Business organisation/association <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Type of business or enterprise <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 National/provincial/local government 2 Government controlled business (e.g. Eskom, Telkom) 3 A private enterprise 4 Non-profit organisation (NGO/CBO) 5 A private household 6 Do not know Number of employees <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 0 employee 2 1 employee 3 between 2 and 4 employees 4 between 5 and 9 employees 5 between 10 and 19 employees 6 between 20 and 49 employees 7 50 or more employees 8 Do not know Job satisfaction <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Hours usually work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Monday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Tuesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Wednesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Thursday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Friday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Saturday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week on Sunday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked past week in total <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours usually worked in your first job/business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours usually worked in your second job/business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours usually worked in your all other job/business <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked in total <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Monday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Tuesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Wednesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Thursday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Friday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Saturday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job on Sunday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on first job in total <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Monday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Tuesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Wednesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Thursday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Friday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Saturday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job on Sunday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on second job in total <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Monday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Tuesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Wednesday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Thursday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Friday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Saturday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs on Sunday <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Hours worked on all other jobs in total <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Liked to work more hours <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes, in the current job 2 Yes, in taking an additional job 3 Yes, in another job with more hours 4 No 5 Do not know Additional hours <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Willing to work longer hours <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Willing to do extra work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Main work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Working for someone else for pay 2 An employer (employing one or more employees) 3 Own account worker (not employing any employees) 4 Helping without pay in a household business Wages or salary interval <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Monthly 2 Weekly 3 Fortnightly (Every two weeks) 4 Daily 5 Hourly 6 Annually Tips or commission <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Earnings interval <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Salary category <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Monthly 2 Weekly 3 Fortnightly (Every two weeks) 4 Daily 5 Hourly 6 Annually Do farm work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Time to do farm work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Fetch water <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Do farm work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Time to do farm work <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Fetch water <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Time to fetch water <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Produce goods <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Time to produce goods for household use <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Do construction <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Time to do construction <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Catch food <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No 3 Do not know Time to catch food <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Age <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Stratum <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Employment status <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Employed 2 Unemployed 3 Discouraged job seeker 4 Other not economically active Employment status expanded <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Employed 2 Unemployed 4 Not economically active Inactivity reason <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Scholar/student 2 Home-maker 3 Health reasons 4 Too young/old/retired 5 Discouraged work-seekers 6 Other Unemployment status <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Job loser 2 Job leaver 3 New entrant 4 Re-entrant 5 Other – last worked >5 years ago Main industry <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 2 Mining and quarrying 3 Manufacturing 4 Electricity, gas and water supply 5 Construction 6 Wholesale and retail trade 7 Transport, storage and communication 8 Financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services 9 Community, social and personal services 10 Private households 11 Other Main occupation <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Legislators, senior officials and managers 2 Professionals 3 Technical and associate professionals 4 Clerks 5 Service workers and shop and market sales workers 6 Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 7 Craft and related trades workers 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers 9 Elementary Occupation 10 Domestic workers Previous industry <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 2 Mining and quarrying 3 Manufacturing 4 Electricity, gas and water supply 5 Construction 6 Wholesale and retail trade 7 Transport, storage and communication 8 Financial intermediation, insurance, real estate and business services 9 Community, social and personal services 10 Private households 11 Other Previous occupation <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Legislators, senior officials and managers 2 Professionals 3 Technical and associate professionals 4 Clerks 5 Service workers and shop and market sales workers 6 Skilled agricultural and fishery workers 7 Craft and related trades workers 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers 9 Elementary Occupation 10 Domestic workers 11 Other occupation Sector one <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Formal sector (non-agricultural) 2 Informal sector (non-agricultural) 3 Agriculture 4 Private households Sector two <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Formal sector (including agriculture) 2 Informal sector (including agriculture) 4 Private households Informal employment <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Formal employment 2 Informal employment 8 Other Long-term unemployment <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Long-term unemployment (1 year and longer) 2 Short-term unemployment (less than 1 year) Involvement in at least one non-market activity <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Involved in at least one activity 2 Not involved in any activity Underemployment <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Underemployed 2 Not underemployed Hours worked <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Education Status <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 No schooling 2 Less than primary completed 3 Primary completed 4 Secondary not completed 5 Secondary completed 6 Tertiary 7 Other Not in employment,education or training <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Yes 2 No Graduates <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Less than matric 2 Matric 3 Other Tertiary 4 Graduates 5 Other Age group <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Age 00–04 2 Age 05–09 3 Age 10–14 4 Age 15–19 5 Age 20–24 6 Age 25–29 7 Age 30–34 8 Age 35–39 9 Age 40–44 10 Age 45–49 11 Age 50–54 12 Age 55–59 13 Age 60–64 14 Age 65–69 15 Age 70–74 16 Age 75+ Province <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Western Cape 2 Eastern Cape 3 Northern Cape 4 Free State 5 KwaZulu-Natal 6 North West 7 Gauteng 8 Mpumalanga 9 Limpopo Metro/non-metro <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 WC - Non-Metro 2 WC - City of Cape Town 3 EC - Non-Metro 4 EC - Buffalo City 5 EC - Nelson Mandela Bay 6 NC - Non-Metro 7 FS - Non-Metro 8 FS - Mangaung 9 KZN - Non-Metro 10 KZN - eThekwini 11 NW - Non-Metro 12 GP - Non-Metro 13 GP - Ekurhuleni 14 GP - City of Johannesburg 15 GP - City of Tshwane 16 MP - Non-Metro 17 LP - Non-Metro Geography type <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Urban formal 2 Urban informal 3 Tribal areas 4 Rural formal Primary sampling unit <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Monthly income amount <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Quarter <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> 1 Quarter 1 2 Quarter 2 3 Quarter 3 4 Quarter 4 Weight per quarter <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA> Weight <NA> <NA> <NA> <NA>