How was the unemployed figure of 12% arrived at?

Dear Editor,

I refer to the news article ‘Unemployment rate 12%, new survey finds’ (SN, March 16).

The total resident population 15 years and above (A) is reported as 550,831.

The total employed population (B) is reported as 271,068 (or 49.21% of (A)).

Therefore, the total number of people not working who are 15 years and above is (A)-(B)= 279,763 (or, 50.79% of (A)).

The unemployed is given as 37,119 (or 6.74% of (A)).

It is incredible that 242,644 people who are 15 years old and above are in training or do not want to work.

Why the discrepancy between the unemployed figure of 37,119 and the total number of people not working of 279,763?

In any event, how did they come up with an unemployment rate of 12%?

Yours faithfully,

Sean Ori