**Summary:**
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) utilizes findings from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) as the official data source for labor statistics in India. These findings are leveraged by various Ministries/Departments for planning, policy formulation, and decision-making, particularly to address unemployment and skill development challenges. The data offers insights into employment trends across industries and occupations, facilitating targeted policy interventions.
Specifically, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) uses PLFS data to analyze vocational training trends, employment, unemployment, and labor force participation. The survey provides disaggregated data (by gender, age, and field of training) on vocational training status, enabling evidence-based policymaking and assessment of skill development initiatives.
To enhance inter-ministerial coordination, a Core Group, chaired by the Secretary of Labour & Employment, has been established to develop a mechanism for regular employment data collection, analytics, and reporting. This group includes representatives from key Ministries such as Agriculture, Commerce, Road Transport, MSME, DPIIT, MoSPI, MSDE, Textiles, Railways, and NITI Aayog. Furthermore, Steering Committees and Technical Advisory Groups, comprising experts from Central Ministries/Departments, States/UTs, academia, research, economics, and finance, have been constituted to review the framework, address issues related to methodology, questionnaire, and results of surveys conducted by MoSPI, including the PLFS.
Key Entities Referenced
Periodic Labour Force Survey PLFS: Official data source on labour statistics in India used for planning, policy formulation, and decision-making.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship MSDE: Utilizes data from the PLFS to analyze trends in vocational training, employment, unemployment, and labour force participation.
Core Group: A group constituted under the Chairpersonship of Secretary Labour Employment to develop a mechanism for regular employment data collection, analytics and reporting.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India involved in the Core Group for employment data collection and analysis.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation MoSPI: Conducts surveys including PLFS and constitutes Steering CommitteeTechnical Advisory Groups.
Secretary Labour Employment: Chairperson of the Core Group responsible for developing a mechanism for regular employment data collection.
Ministry of Culture: Ministry of State in the Ministry of Culture mentioned in the policy.
Ministry of Planning: Ministry of State in the Ministry of Planning mentioned in the policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4406
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
UTILISATION OF PLFS FINDINGS
4406. SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:
DR. VINOD KUMAR BIND:
Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) findings have
been utilised by various Ministries to address unemployment
and skill development challenges, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government provides insights into any inter-
ministerial coordination mechanisms developed to act on PLFS
data trends; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF
STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE [RAO
INDERJIT SINGH]
(a): The estimates provided by the Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) serve as the official data source on labour statistics in India
and are widely used by various Ministries/Departments for planning,
policy formulation, and decision-making. These statistical indicators
offer valuable insights into employment trends across specific
industries and occupational segments, thereby aiding in the
development of targeted policy interventions.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)
utilizes data from the PLFS to analyze trends in vocational training,
employment, unemployment, and labour force participation. The
survey provides information on status of vocational training received,disaggregated by gender, age group, by field of training, enabling the
Ministry for evidence-based policymaking and assessing reach of skill
development initiatives.
(b) and (c): A Core Group has been constituted under the
Chairpersonship of Secretary (Labour & Employment) to develop a
mechanism for regular employment data collection, analytics and
reporting. This Core Group includes representatives from key
Ministries such as Agriculture, Commerce, Road Transport, MSME,
DPIIT, MoSPI, MSDE, Textiles, Railways, NITI Aayog.
Further, for the purpose of reviewing the framework and to address
the issues raised from time to time on the subject, results,
methodology, questionnaire, etc of the surveys being conducted by
MoSPI including PLFS, there have been constituted Steering
Committee/Technical Advisory Groups, etc which consist of expert
members from various spheres such as Central
Ministries/Departments, States/UTs, academia, research, economics,
finance, etc.
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