The DPRU’s current key areas of expertise are labour market issues, poverty, and inequality, with a specific focus on South Africa. While these three areas constitute the core focus of the Unit’s research work, researchers do engage in projects concentrating on related issues such as gender, trade, economic growth or demography. The bulk of our research derives from the analysis and manipulation of micro-level datasets, such as individual and household surveys, firm surveys, national censuses and even administrative databases. The future research direction of the Unit is expected to draw from its established strengths and the experience of its research staff, but with an emphasis on deepening our expertise in current areas of research and broadening the scope of future research. A sample of both current and completed research projects is represented below.