**Policy Summary: Utilisation of Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Findings by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)**
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) publishes the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which serves as the primary official data source for labour statistics in India. These statistics are used across government for planning, policy formulation, and decision-making, offering insights into employment trends across industries and occupations.
The MSDE utilizes PLFS data to analyze trends in vocational training, employment, unemployment, and labour force participation. Specifically, the survey provides information on vocational training status, disaggregated by gender, age group, and field of training, enabling evidence-based policymaking and assessment of skill development initiatives.
A Core Group, chaired by the Secretary of Labour & Employment, has been formed to develop a mechanism for regular employment data collection, analytics, and reporting. This group includes representatives from the Ministries of 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, methodology, questionnaire, and address issues related to surveys conducted by MoSPI, including the PLFS.
This information was provided by Rao Inderjit Singh, 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, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025.
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): A ministry that utilizes data from the PLFS to analyze trends in vocational training, employment, unemployment, and labour force participation.
Secretary Labour Employment: Chairperson of the Core Group constituted to develop a mechanism for regular employment data collection, analytics, and reporting.
NITI Aayog: A member of the Core Group for employment data collection.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): Conducts surveys including PLFS and has a Steering Committee/Technical Advisory Group for review.
Lok Sabha: The house where a question was raised to which the information was given.
Rao Inderjit Singh: 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
Ministry of Agriculture: A member of the Core Group for employment data collection.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Utilisation of PLFS findings
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE) utilizes data from the PLFS to analyze
trends
Posted On: 20 AUG 2025 5:25PM by PIB Delhi
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.
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.
This information was given by the 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 in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
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(Release ID: 2158448)