All you need to know about the Periodic Labour Force Survey |ForumIAS

Context:

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme and Implementation has launched Periodic Labour Force Survey in April 2017 which will supersede the earlier system where data was available only every five years.

About the Periodic Labour Force Survey

The Periodic Labour Force Survey would generate quarterly reports on the urban labour market situation and an annual report for rural India.
The survey will supersede the earlier system where data was available only every five years.
The survey would supply data for both the formal and informal sector.
The data will be collected from both large and small enterprises and so that it is possible to measure informal sector activity as well.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey will also incorporate a Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method, with field operators using tablets to enter the data.
Introduction of the CAPI method is expected to generate more accurate and timely data.
The first release of data will be in December 2018.

What is the problem with India’s employment data?

India’s employment data are far from robust and not timely enough to enable meaningful policy responses for emerging job market realities.
The only official job data available are based on surveys conducted by the Labour Bureau.
However, the Labour Bureau surveys cover only few sectors in selected states.
The most comprehensive existing employment survey is conducted once in every five years by the National Sample Survey Office. However, it has not been done since 2011-12.

Significance of the Periodic Labour Force Survey

The Periodic Labour Force survey would provide timely statistics and thus help in tracking the employment trends more swiftly.

Other plans of the Ministry

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme and Implementation is preparing to revise the base year of national accounts to 2017-18 from 2011-12. This would take place after the completion of the household consumer expenditure survey and the labour force survey at the end of 2018.
A fact sheet on the Indian economy is being developed. This would incorporate inputs from all important ministries on 100 indicators.
The Ministry is also planning to conduct an Annual Survey of Services on the lines of Annual Survey of Industries.

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