Govt expands PLFS scope: Monthly labour data, rural estimates, and larger sample size introduced

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is trying to enhance the scope and relevance of employment data through key improvements to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).

Starting April 2025, key labour force indicators for the quarterly PLFS results will cover rural areas.

The April–June 2025 quarterly PLFS results, inclusive of rural jobs data, will be released in August 2025. And, thereafter, in November and February, for the second and third quarters.

In another key change, the MoSPI is transitioning to calendar year-based annual reporting for PLFS results, replacing the earlier July–June cycle. This will align employment statistics with other economic datasets for improved comparability and make it more current.

To boost accuracy and representation, the MoSPI has decided to significantly enlarge the survey’s sample size as well. The number of households covered will increase from 1,02,400 to 2,72,304—a 2.65-fold rise—ensuring district-level representation for the first time.

As indicated by the MoSPI earlier, employment data from the PLFS for urban areas will be released monthly. Starting April 2025, the data will be released on May 15, thereby the 16th of every month.