1.
Introduction
Continuous Multipurpose Household
Survey (CMS) is an ongoing survey
with a core questionnaire and
rotating add-on modules. It is a
more efficient and flexible way to
gather and release statistics
compared to the old costly and
seldom timely ad-hoc surveys.
Statistics are seldom perfect, but
delaying the results to improve the
reliability does not always pay off
in better quality. Obsolete data has
little value nowadays when the
economy is changing rapidly. Hence,
CMS is expected to release important
indicators, such as, employment,
unemployment and underemployment,
migration and remittances from
abroad an economic welfare index on
a quarterly basis.
The
rotating modules will generate
deeper statistics on education,
health, informal sector, time use,
food intake, service performance and
quality of life and specially
demanded statistics. An annual
standard report will be released
within two months after each survey
year presenting more detailed
information on, demography, labour
market and household economy.
The
report is based on the first visit
to a nationwide representative
sample of 4,628 households. The same
households will be visited four
quarters before being replaced,
allowing more reliable estimates on
changes (panel data) and better
representation of the economy of
each household. Next release will be
able to provide some estimates on
the changes in employment and
unemployment from previous quarter.
2.
Results
A
person is recognized as a migrant if
he or she has changed a geographic
location. Figure 2.1 shows the
percentage distribution of Lesotho
citizens who migrated by sex. A
higher percentage of citizens who
migrated to other countries were
males (76 percent). Similarly, more
males (65.2 percent) migrated to RSA
than females (34.8 percent). The
reason might be that RSA has been
the major labour migration
destination to Basotho men working
in the mines for a long time. It was
also observed that the percentage
was high (56.7 percent) for migrants
who migrated to other parts of
Lesotho for females as compared to
males (43.3 percent). Citizens who
never moved from their place of
birth consist of 51 percent females
and 49 percent males. This is
consistent with other findings
indicating that males had a higher
likelihood to get on long distance
migration than their female
counterparts. Most females are more
likely to undertake short distance
migration.
2.2 Highest Educational Level
Attained
Table 2.1 presents the percentage
distribution of highest level of
education attained by district and
ecological zone. Maseru has the
highest percentage of both
graduates/post graduates and diploma
or certificate or vocational
training after secondary school
estimated at 41 percent. Berea
followed with 18 percent of
graduates or post graduates. The
proportion of those who reported to
have no education in both Leribe and
Maseru is 15 percent and Thaba-Tseka
followed with 12 percent.
Furthermore, in the lowlands there
are higher proportions of people
with higher education than in other
ecological zones. Those with no
education are concentrated in the
lowlands and mountains (37 percent
and 36 percent respectively). The
same information was revealed by
2004 LDHS which shows that there
were more males than females with no
education in the mountains with 37
percent and 4.6 percent respectively
while the lowlands had 9.6 percent
for males and 1.1 percent for the
females.
Table 2.1 Percentage distribution of
highest level of education attained
by district
|
District |
Pre
school |
Std
(1-7) |
Form
(1-5) |
Dip. Cert/Voc. Train
after P.S. |
Dip. Cert/Voc. Train
after S.S |
Dip. Cert/Voc. Train
after H.S. |
Grad/
post grad |
None |
Other |
|
Botha Bothe |
4 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
|
Leribe |
9 |
17 |
18 |
26 |
8 |
13 |
12 |
15 |
1
3 |
|
Berea |
20 |
17 |
17 |
14 |
30 |
21 |
18 |
14 |
2
8 |
|
Maseru |
22 |
17 |
26 |
30 |
41 |
40 |
41 |
15 |
2
8 |
|
Mafeteng |
7 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
0 |
|
Mohale's
Hoek |
10 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
0 |
|
Quthing |
6 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
7 |
0 |
|
Qacha's Nek |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
|
Mokhotlong |
10 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
|
Thaba Tseka |
8 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
12 |
|
|
Ecological Zone |
|
Lowlands |
50 |
49 |
71 |
85 |
67 |
83 |
79 |
37 |
5 |
|
Foothills |
15 |
17 |
10 |
4 |
20 |
2 |
4 |
19 |
1 |
|
Mountains |
27 |
25 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
12 |
36 |
2 |
|
SRV |
9 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
|
2.3 Economic Characteristics
2.3.1 Employment Status
Table 2.2 presents the percentage
distribution of the economically
active population by district,
employment status and sex.
Unemployment is lowest in Qacha’s
Nek at 9.6 percent while highest in
Leribe and Thaba-Tseka with 37.7
percent and 40.9 percent
respectively. This implies that
employment is highest in Qacha’s Nek
and is followed by Mafeteng. The
employment levels by district show
that there are more males employed
compared to females, with the
exception of Qacha’s Nek.
Table
2.2 Population by district,
employment status and sex
| |
Employed |
Unemployed |
|
District |
Total |
Male |
Female |
Total |
Male |
Female |
|
Total |
70.6 |
73.1 |
66.9 |
29.4 |
26.9 |
33.1 |
|
Botha Bothe |
66.1 |
69.7 |
60.2 |
33.9 |
30.3 |
39.8 |
|
Leribe |
62.3 |
63.3 |
60.9 |
37.7 |
36.7 |
39.1 |
|
Berea |
74.1 |
77.6 |
69.3 |
25.9 |
22.4 |
30.7 |
|
Maseru |
71.6 |
73.9 |
69.0 |
28.4 |
26.1 |
31.0 |
|
Mafeteng |
78.6 |
79.0 |
77.8 |
21.4 |
21.0 |
22.2 |
|
Mohale's Hoek |
74.0 |
75.0 |
72.0 |
26.0 |
25.0 |
28.0 |
|
Quthing |
72.8 |
73.2 |
71.9 |
27.2 |
26.8 |
28.1 |
|
Qacha's Nek |
90.4 |
89.0 |
92.7 |
9.6 |
11.0 |
7.3 |
|
Mokhotlong |
72.2 |
78.7 |
61.0 |
27.8 |
21.3 |
39.0 |
|
Thaba Tseka |
59.1 |
66.3 |
48.2 |
40.9 |
33.7 |
51.8 |
The
unemployment rate in this context
refers to the economically active
population in age group 15-64 years
and is calculated exclusive of
housekeeper/house-maker. Table 2.3
illustrates the economically active
population by age group and
activity. The total unemployment
rate amounted to 29.4 percent. The
dominant employment status is
employment with salary (33.9
percent) followed by subsistence
farming (13.9 percent). On average,
40.5 percent of the population aged
55 years and above is engaged in
subsistence farming as compared to
other age groups which recorded
lower percentages.
Table
2.3 Percentage distribution of
economically active population by
age group and activity
| |
Employer |
Employed with salary |
Subsistence farmer |
Casual worker |
Self employed |
Unpaid family worker |
Total |
Unemployed |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
0.6 |
33.9 |
13.9 |
10.7 |
5.9 |
5.7 |
100 |
29.4 |
|
15 - 19 |
0.0 |
19.9 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
1.2 |
21.3 |
100 |
45.0 |
|
20 - 24 |
0.5 |
24.4 |
7.5 |
10.6 |
2.4 |
10.7 |
100 |
43.9 |
|
25 - 29 |
0.6 |
36.8 |
8.0 |
13.1 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
100 |
32.7 |
|
30 - 34 |
0.5 |
39.7 |
9.1 |
11.7 |
8.3 |
2.8 |
100 |
27.8 |
|
35 - 39 |
0.3 |
43.6 |
12.4 |
12.0 |
6.6 |
1.3 |
100 |
23.7 |
|
40 - 44 |
0.8 |
42.3 |
17.5 |
11.4 |
9.5 |
1.4 |
100 |
17.1 |
|
45 - 49 |
1.2 |
43.6 |
16.5 |
10.5 |
8.3 |
2.3 |
100 |
17.6 |
|
50 - 54 |
0.6 |
36.7 |
23.1 |
9.9 |
10.5 |
1.2 |
100 |
18.1 |
|
55 - 59 |
0.1 |
23.7 |
37.5 |
8.9 |
6.0 |
3.2 |
100 |
20.6 |
|
60 - 64 |
1.3 |
20.2 |
43.4 |
7.8 |
9.6 |
0.6 |
100 |
17.1 |
2.4 Household Economy and
Economic Welfare
2.4.1 Main source of income
Farming is the main source of income
for most households. More households
are depending on pensions now
compared to 2003, while wages from
the public sector has decreased. As
expected public and private
employment is most common in urban
areas, while farming is most common
in rural areas.
Table 2.4 Current main source of
household income by urban/rural
residence
|
Main income
source |
Total |
Urban |
Rural |
HBS 2003 |
|
Public sector
wages |
8.0 |
19.6 |
4.9 |
13.0 |
|
Private
sector wages |
22.6 |
37.4 |
18.6 |
27.3 |
|
Farming |
26.7 |
5.5 |
32.3 |
25.4 |
|
Casual work |
12.6 |
11.9 |
12.8 |
… |
|
Household
business |
4.8 |
7.2 |
4.2 |
9.1 |
|
Pensions |
8.3 |
3.2 |
9.7 |
2.3 |
|
Remittances
from abroad |
5.3 |
2.9 |
5.9 |
10.7 |
|
Transfers |
5.2 |
6.6 |
4.8 |
… |
|
Social
assistance |
2.0 |
1.4 |
2.2 |
… |
|
Other |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
12.2 |
|
Total |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
*In the HBS 2003,
casual work and remittances from
abroad were not separate categories.
2.4.2
Household ability to pay
for utility
This information was captured by
asking households whether they had
been in arrears or unable to pay for
electricity, water, gas and
paraffin. About 72.9 percent of
households cannot afford to pay for
their utility whereas only 27.1
percent can manage to pay.
2.4.3 Affordability of Credit
Payment
This information was captured by
asking households whether they had
been in arrears or unable to pay for
higher purchase installments or
other loan payments. In Lesotho
households who can afford credit
payment are at the margin of 16.6
percent while those households who
cannot afford credit payment
constitute 83.4 percent.
Household consumption expenditure is
defined as all monetary expenditure
by households on goods and services
for consumption. The value of
education, health and other services
received free from government; own
produced food as well as the rental
value of owner-occupied and free
housing is not included.
Excluded from the household
consumption expenditure are direct
taxes such as income tax, social
security contributions, life
insurance premiums and savings bank
deposits. In addition to the
excluded items are repayment of
loans, loans provided to other
households, disbursement for
investments such as purchase of
land, houses and major house
repairs, gambling losses and cash
grants to other households. The
survey collected information on
household expenditure by asking the
household about the value of items
purchased and consumed during the
reference period in a face to face
interview.
The
data on household expenditure
presented in 2.6-2.9(see Annex) are
based on the expenditure for
non-durable goods (food and other
consumables) during May-July 2009
and semi-durable goods (like
clothing and textiles) during
March-July 2009 and durable goods
(like furniture) during May
2008-July 2009. Seasonal variations
in consumption are therefore not yet
captured, but will be when the
households are revisited.
Annex
Tables corresponding to the graphs
(Percentage Distribution)
|
Place of
stay |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
Lived at
home |
92 |
88 |
89 |
87 |
90 |
|
Other place
in Lesotho |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
|
RSA – South
Africa |
5 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
5 |
|
Other
countries |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Months stayed away |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
1-2 months |
39 |
35 |
36 |
35 |
37 |
|
3-5 months |
24 |
30 |
30 |
29 |
31 |
|
6-11 months |
18 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
19 |
|
12 months |
18 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
13 |
|
Age groups |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
0-4 years |
8 |
11 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
5-9 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
|
10-14 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
12 |
|
15-19 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
12 |
|
20-24 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
|
25-29 |
12 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
|
30-34 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
35-39 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
40-44 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
45-49 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
|
50-54 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
55-59 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
60-64 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
65-69 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
70-74 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
75+ |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
Birth registration |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
Birth
certificate |
35 |
21 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
|
Registered
without cert. |
6 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|
Reported
only |
12 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
|
No
registration |
47 |
56 |
55 |
54 |
56 |
|
Reasons for not registering |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
Lack of
information |
82 |
76 |
76 |
77 |
75 |
|
Lack of
money |
4 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
|
Too far |
3 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
Other |
11 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
School attendance |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
Never
attended |
5 |
14 |
13 |
17 |
8 |
|
Still
attending |
39 |
35 |
36 |
36 |
36 |
|
Left school |
56 |
51 |
51 |
47 |
56 |
|
Completed school |
Urban |
Rural |
Total |
Men |
Women |
|
No education |
9 |
18 |
22 |
22 |
12 |
|
Pre- school |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Primary |
40 |
62 |
56 |
56 |
61 |
|
Secondary |
40 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
23 |
|
Higher |
8 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
