Monitoring the Socio-Economic Effects of COVID-19 on Mauritian Households – December 2020
Following lockdown measures introduced by the Government on 20 March 2020, the face-to-face data collection for the Continuous Multi-Purpose Household Survey (CMPHS) had to be stopped and replaced by a telephone survey. The most important data items of the normal CMPHS and some additional information that would allow an impact analysis of the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on the lives of Mauritian households are being collected through the telephone survey.
Highlights – December 2020
• Total employment increased from 510,200 in October 2020 to 523,700 in December 2020, that is, an increase of 13,500.
• The number of unemployed increased by 300 from 60,700 in October to 61,000 in December.
• The unemployment rate (based on a labor force comprising individuals aged 16-64 years and not in full time education) is estimated at 10.4 percent in December compared to 10.6 percent in October.
• In December, the number of inactives was estimated to be 188,000 compared to 202,000 in October; a decrease of 14,000.
• Compared to income prior to lockdown of 20 March 2020, around 69 percent of self-employed/employers reported a decline in their business income in December 2020. Among employees, around 20 percent reported a decrease in income in December 2020.
• About 76 percent of households reported having difficulty to meet their household expenses with their current monthly income in December 2020; slightly higher than in October (75 percent).
• In December 2020, about 29 percent of households had difficulty in the payment of their electricity bills on time due to financial constraints compared to 33 percent in October.
• Households who had problems to pay their water bills was estimated at 20 percent in December compared to 23 percent in October.
• Around 29 percent of households surveyed in December and 30 percent of those surveyed in October reported a reduction in their income prior to the pandemic.
• The households who have been affected by a shock as a consequence of the pandemic rose from 40 percent in October to 46 percent in December. The shocks more commonly reported were reduction in salary/income from business and job loss.
31 March 2021