The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has revamped the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2025.

• The objective is to enhance frequency, scope, and reliability of labour market indicators and to provide timely and granular employment data for policy making.

Key Changes in PLFS from January 2025

1. Monthly Estimates Introduced:
   • For the first time, monthly estimates of key labour indicators ‘Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR) and Unemployment Rate (UR)’ will be released.
     1. These are based on Current Weekly Status (CWS) for both rural and urban areas at all-India level.
2. Quarterly Estimates Extended to Rural Areas:
   • From 2025, rural areas will also be included, enabling combined country-level estimates on a quarterly basis.(Earlier, quarterly results were limited to urban areas). 
3. Annual Results Aligned to Calendar Year:
   • Annual results will now follow the calendar year format (January–December), instead of the earlier July–June cycle.
   • This will assist in synchronizing India’s labour statistics with international databases.

Sampling and Methodological Enhancements

1. Enhanced Sample Size:
   • The number of First Stage Units (FSUs) increased to 22,692 annually (12,504 rural and 10,188 urban) from 12,800 earlier.
   • Each FSU will now survey 12 households (previously 8), resulting in a total sample of approximately 2.72 lakh households annually—a 2.65x increase.
2. Monthly Rotational Panel Scheme:
   • Each household will now be visited four times over four consecutive months (one initial + three re-visits).
   • This supports generation of high-frequency estimates while reducing burden on the sample frame.
3. Improved District-Level Representation:
   • The district is now the primary geographical unit (basic stratum) for sampling, improving regional granularity and ensuring data from most districts.
   • Rural samples are stratified based on distance from district HQ or cities, and urban samples on million-plus cities.

About PLFS

• Launch: 2017 by NSO to generate labour force indicators on a regular basis.
• Earlier Objectives:
  • Provide quarterly estimates (CWS) for urban areas.
  • Provide annual estimates for both rural and urban areas in both Usual Status (ps+ss) and CWS.

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