Periodic labour force survey

IN NEWS:

• The annual report of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) has been released.

ABOUT PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (PLFS):

• Launched in April 2017, Periodic Labour Force Survey provides quarterly labour and employment data for urban India and annual data for rural India.
• The survey is conducted by NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) under Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY:

• India’s unemployment rate fell between July 2018 and June 2019 to 5.8% from 6.1% during the same period of 2017-18, even as the labour force participation rate rose to 37.5% from 36.9%.
• The Indian economy grew 6.1% in 2018-19, slower than the 7% expansion recorded the year before.
• As per the PLFS report, the urban unemployment rate reduced to 7.7% in 2018-19 from 7.8% and in rural India to 5% from 5.3%.
• The female participation rate improved in both urban and rural India during the period under review, going up to 18.6% in 2018-19 from 17.5% the year before.

LABOUR FORCE AND RELATED CONCEPTS:

• The labour force is the sum of persons in employment plus persons in unemployment. Together these two groups of the population represent the current supply of labour for the production of goods and services taking place in a country through market transactions in exchange for remuneration.
• Labour force participation rate (LFPR) is defined as the section of working population in the age group of 16-64 in the economy currently employed or seeking employment.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding latest annual Periodic labour force survey:

1. The survey is released by Ministry of Labour.
2. As per the survey, the female labour force participation rate has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question