The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India is organising a Data User’s Conference on Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) on 28^th August, 2025 at Kaushal Bhawan, New Moti Bagh, New Delhi. This conference will build upon the dialogue initiated between data users and data producers of PLFS in the first Data User’s Conference on PLFS organised in September, 2024 in Pune in collaboration with Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune and provide the opportunity to reflect on innovations introduced in PLFS from January 2025 and on the high frequency labour market indicators obtained as output of the innovations put in place.

Considering the need to generate high-frequency labour force indicators with wider coverage, the sampling methodology of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was revamped from January 2025. In the revamped PLFS sample design, a total sample size of 22,692 FSUs is planned to be surveyed (12,504 FSUs in the rural areas and 10,188 in the urban areas) in each year of the two-year panel. A total of 12 households will be surveyed from each of the selected FSUs which implies an overall sample size of around 2,72,304 households. This marks a 2.65 time increase in sample households.

The redesigned PLFS aims to achieve the following objectives:

• To generate key employment and unemployment indicators – namely Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR) – every month for both rural and urban areas at the all-India level under the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
• To extend the Quarterly PLFS results to rural areas, thereby producing quarterly estimates of labour market indicators for both rural and urban India under the CWS framework.
• To provide annual estimates of key employment and unemployment indicators in both usual status (ps+ss) and Current Weekly Status (CWS) for rural as well as urban areas.

The Data User’s Conference will be chaired by Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The distinguished dignitaries, including Ms. Vandana Gurnani, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, and Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General, National Sample Survey (NSS), will grace the occasion and share their insights.

The event will host approximately 200 participants, comprising researchers, academicians, economists, industrial associations and trade bodies, policymakers, representatives from international organizations, representatives from enterprises as well as esteemed institutions from academia and the media. Domain experts and members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) will also be present. The inaugural session will be followed by technical sessions, a panel discussion, and an open interaction with participants.

The technical session of PLFS will highlight the salient aspects of the changes put in place in the sampling methodology of PLFS from January 2025 and the findings based on the high frequency PLFS monthly and quarterly estimates released in 2025 thus far. This session will feature presentations from both data producers and data users providing an overarching perspective on the survey findings and its enhanced application in policy domain.  Labour market dynamics at the macrolevel in the short term expressed by the high frequency indicators will be underscored and relevance, scope and constraints of applying these indicators in the policy space will be explored.

A panel discussion on “Fast Data, Big Impact – How High-Frequency PLFS Will Serve the Needs of Stakeholders” will feature eminent experts including Prof. C. Veeramani, Director, Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Thiruvananthapuram; Ms. Anubhuti Sahay, Head of India Economic Research, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Peter Buwembo, Specialist Labour Statistician, ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia, New Delhi; and Dr. Aasheerwad Dwivedi, Member, FICCI Economist Forum and Assistant Professor (Economics), Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi. The Panelists will offer insights into the how frequency labour market indicators with enhanced representation be align with the requirement of the stakeholders.

The panel discussion is envisaged to foster a comprehensive understanding of the practical implications of the revamped PLFS sampling methodology. It is expected to bring forth actionable recommendations for enhancing the information content of PLFS, increasing its policy relevance, and addressing important data gaps. The dialogue may also help strengthen collaboration between data producers and users for more responsive and informed decision-making and clear the air on the concerns expressed on PLFS survey methodology which have appeared in the media.

Following the panel discussion, the floor will be opened for an open interaction, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers and panelists. The event will conclude with a brief outlining of reflections and takeaways from the discussions held throughout the conference. This conference is designed to reinforce MoSPI’s commitment to enhancing the country’s statistical framework

****

Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2161200)