Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Why In News:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for May 2026.
The bulletin provides high-frequency employment data covering key indicators - Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR).
What is the PLFS?
Launched: 2017-18 by MoSPI.
Replaced: The Employment and Unemployment Survey (EUS) of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO).
Frequency: Monthly bulletin for urban areas; annual report for rural and urban combined.
Sample: Approximately 1 lakh households surveyed annually.
Reference period approaches: Uses both Current Weekly Status (CWS) (activity in the reference week) and Usual Principal and Subsidiary Status (UPSS) (activity over the preceding 365 days).
Key Indicators Explained
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Percentage of the working-age population (15+ years) that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Percentage of the total population that is actually employed (excludes those seeking but not finding work).
Unemployment Rate (UR): Percentage of the labour force that is unemployed. Formula: UR = Unemployed / (Employed + Unemployed) x 100.
Key Facts for Prelims
MoSPI: Conducts NSS surveys, GDP estimation, CPI, and key statistical releases. The National Statistical Commission (NSC) is an advisory body under MoSPI.
Female LFPR: Has risen significantly in recent PLFS data but remains considerably lower than male LFPR, reflecting structural barriers to women's workforce participation in India.
Gig and Platform Economy: PLFS now captures data on gig workers; the Code on Social Security, 2020 mandates social security for gig and platform workers for the first time in India.