Employment is one of the most important issues in any country, especially in a large and young country like India. Many people are looking for jobs. At the same time, the government needs correct and timely information to create jobs and make better policies. For this reason, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was introduced.

In 2025, the government has started releasing this data every month, which helps us get a better view of the current situation. The Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025 tells us how many people are working, how many are looking for work, and how many are not part of the workforce. It is essential for exams like UPSC, and it also helps the government, researchers, and businesses understand the job situation in India.

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What is the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is a survey that gives information about jobs, employment, and unemployment in India. It was started in April 2017 by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The PLFS is released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which is a part of MoSPI.

This survey helps us answer important questions:

• How many people in India are working?
• How many people are trying to find work but are unable to?
• How many people are neither working nor looking for a job?

The PLFS data is collected from both rural and urban areas. Earlier, data was collected once every year. Urban data was published every quarter. But now, from 2025, we have monthly data too. This helps the government respond quickly to problems in the job market.

Who publishes the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)?

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) was launched by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which later merged with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to form the NSO. The need for PLFS came because India required frequent and real-time data on employment. Earlier employment data came once in 5 years through the Employment-Unemployment Surveys. But that was not enough in today’s fast-changing economy.

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The main goals of the PLFS are:

• To estimate the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR) on a regular basis.
• To compare job trends across rural and urban areas.
• To measure the differences in job data between men and women.
• To understand what kind of jobs people are doing—regular, self-employed, or casual work.
• To help the government plan employment schemes, skill training, and education policies.

This data is very useful for understanding employment patterns, and helps with schemes like Skill India, Make in India, and MGNREGA.

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Key Indicators used in PLFS

To study employment, the PLFS uses three important terms:

1. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): It shows the percentage of people aged 15 and above who are either working or looking for work.
2. Worker Population Ratio (WPR): This shows how many people are actually working, out of the total population.
3. Unemployment Rate (UR): This tells us the share of people who want to work but cannot find a job.

Data Collection Methods in PLFS

PLFS collects data in two ways:

• Usual Status (US): Asks about work done in the last 365 days.
• Current Weekly Status (CWS): Asks about work done in the last 7 days.

The new monthly PLFS data 2025 is based on the CWS method, which gives a more current picture of the labour market.

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The Periodic Labour Force Survey 2025 provides a clear picture of the employment and unemployment situation in India. Below is a summary of the key findings based on data collected using the Current Weekly Status (CWS) method.

Unemployment Rate (for age 15 and above)

The unemployment rate of India as per the annual periodic labour force survey is 5.1% as of April 2025.

Gender-wise Unemployment Rate

Female unemployment is higher in urban areas, possibly due to fewer job opportunities and social or safety factors.

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)

This shows that men participate more in the workforce than women. Rural women participate more than urban women, possibly due to involvement in agriculture or family work.

Worker Population Ratio (WPR)

The WPR is higher in rural areas, especially for women. This may be due to informal work, like agriculture or family-run businesses.

Reasons for Rise in Unemployment Rate

There are many reasons for the high unemployment rate in India, especially in urban areas:

• Lack of skill training – Many youths don’t have the skills required by today’s jobs.
• Slow job creation in formal sectors – Government jobs and corporate jobs are limited.
• Preference for certain jobs – Some people don’t want to do jobs they feel are below their qualification.
• More students in urban areas – Many young women in cities are studying, not working.
• Safety and work-life balance concerns – Especially for women in urban settings.

These are the key points one must consider while analyzing the periodic labour force survey unemployment rate.

Government Schemes to Improve Employment

The Indian government has launched many schemes to tackle joblessness. Here are some of the major government initiatives to reduce unemployment:

Skill India Mission

Launched in 2015, the Skill India Mission focuses on training young people in useful job-related skills. Many people in India are willing to work but don’t have the right training. This mission helps solve that problem by teaching skills in areas like carpentry, plumbing, computer work, retail, hospitality, and more.

• Over 40 crore youth are targeted under this mission.
• Training is given through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• Many people have become job-ready or started their own small work because of this program.

Make in India

The Make in India campaign encourages companies to manufacture products in India instead of importing them. This helps create more jobs in sectors like textiles, electronics, automobiles, and defense.

• It aims to increase the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP.
• Foreign companies are invited to set up factories in India.
• More factories mean more employment for skilled and unskilled workers.

Startup India

Startup India helps young people and entrepreneurs start their own businesses. Starting a new company creates jobs not just for the owner, but for many others too.

• It provides help like easy loans, tax benefits, and mentoring support.
• Special focus is given to technology, innovation, and job creation.
• The government also set up a Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) to support new ideas financially.

PM Vishwakarma Yojana

The PM Vishwakarma scheme supports traditional artisans and craftsmen, such as weavers, blacksmiths, potters, and cobblers. These workers often don’t get much attention, but they play an important role in the economy.

• The scheme offers skill training, tools, and financial support.
• It helps preserve Indian crafts and boosts self-employment.
• Beneficiaries also get support in branding and selling their products.

MUDRA Loan Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) helps small business owners and self-employed individuals by giving them easy loans.

• Loans up to ₹10 lakh are given without any need for collateral (no property needed as security).
• These loans are available in three categories: Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishor (₹50,000–₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5–₹10 lakh).
• It is especially helpful for people who run small shops, tailors, artisans, or local services.

MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act)

MGNREGA is one of India’s biggest job schemes. It gives 100 days of guaranteed wage employment every year to rural households.

• Jobs usually involve manual labour like building roads, digging ponds, or planting trees.
• The scheme is important in times of economic slowdown or during droughts and floods.
• It also helps reduce migration to cities by offering rural people work near their homes.

These programs aim to increase the Worker Population Ratio and reduce the unemployment rate.

Way Forward

To improve the job market, India needs to take several important steps:

• Encourage skill-based education at the school and college level.
• Focus on women employment by improving workplace safety and flexible job options.
• Promote entrepreneurship through more support to startups and self-employed people.
• Build more industries in rural areas to stop migration to cities.
• Use PLFS data to make policies quickly and respond to job market changes.

By focusing on these steps, the government can ensure inclusive growth and better opportunities for all citizens.

Conclusion

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is a powerful tool that helps us understand the job situation in India. With the launch of monthly PLFS reports in 2025, the data has become even more timely and useful. It gives us a clear picture of employment, unemployment, and labour participation.

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