Quarter (Q1) Periodic Labour Force Survey

May 25, 2024

General Studies Paper-3

Context

Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.

About the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)

It was launched by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in April 2017, considering the importance of availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals.
The data on Employment and Unemployment is collected through Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).

Objectives:

To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.

Key Findings of PLFS

Unemployment Rate (UR) in Urban Areas: It decreased from 6.8% (Q1 2023) to 6.7% (Q1 2024) for persons of age 15 years and above.
For Male: It increased from 6.0% to 6.1%
Female UR decreased from 9.2% to 8.5%
Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Urban Areas: It has shown an increasing trend from 48.5% (Q1 2023) to 50.2% (Q1 2024) for persons of age 15 years and above.
- Male LFPR: It increased from 73.5% to 74.4%
- Female LFPR: It increased from 22.7% to 25.6%
Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Increasing Trend in WPR for persons of age 15 years and above from 45.2% (Q1 2023) to 46.9% (Q1 2024).
- For Male: It increased from 69.1% to 69.8%
- For Female: It increased from 20.6% to 23.4%

State Wise Data on Unemployment

Kerala had the highest unemployment rate in the 15-29 age group in urban areas in Q1 2024, while Delhi had the lowest joblessness rate among 22 states and Union territories.
J&K, Telangana, Rajasthan and Odisha were among the five states with the highest unemployment rates in the 15-29 years category.
Three out of the 22 states and UTs recorded unemployment rates in single digits – apart from Delhi (3.1%), the other states were Gujarat (9%) and Haryana (9.5%).
- The other two states among the five with low joblessness rates were Karnataka (11.5%) and Madhya Pradesh (12.1%).
PLFS data showed that the unemployment rate for women was the highest in J&K at 48.6%, followed by Kerala (46.6%), Uttarakhand (39.4%), Telangana (38.4%) and Himachal Pradesh (35.9%).
Related government initiatives to boost overall employment scenario in India:
Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY): Launched as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package 3.0, to incentivise employers for creating new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY): tTo incentivize employers for the creation of new employment.
National Career Service (NCS) Project: It provides a variety of career-related services like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, apprenticeships, internships, etc.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): It provides at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (PMGKRA): To boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected persons in rural areas.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY): It facilitates self-employment by providing collateral-free loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to micro/small business enterprises and individuals.
Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA): To provide immediate employment and livelihood opportunities to the distressed and to saturate the villages with public infrastructure and creation of livelihood assets.
PM GatiShakti: It is a transformative approach for economic growth and sustainable development, driven by seven engines, namely, Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways, and Logistics Infrastructure.