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Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Labour force survey may include migration trends
New Delhi: The statistics ministry is considering the inclusion of migration data in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2026, a government official told ET."Discussions are underway to include this data point in the survey," the official migration data is expected to help identify regions with high labour demand and better inform employment and welfare strategies of government policies. Additionally, information on migrants is crucial for designing and delivering welfare schemes like the 'One Nation One Ration Card'. The initiative is part of the broader effort by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) to make employment data more robust and accurate. Questions such as whether an individual moved from their previous usual place of residence and why they shifted cities or states may become part of the 2026 survey design. The data will be collected across states and is expected to be released in present, the PLFS covers indicators such as unemployment rate, labour force participation rate (LFPR), and worker population ratio across rural and urban areas. While the current design does not focus on capturing information on migration, such data was collected once during the 2020-21 say this will offer deeper insights from business as well as policy making perspective. "This will enrich the tracking of economic activity and employment trends, given the diversity of India's labour market across regions," said Sakshi Gupta, principal economist at HDFC Bank. A person is classified as a migrant if their current residence differs from their last usual place of residence."For many social welfare schemes, information on migration makes your targeting more efficient," said Gupta. Currently, the e-shram portal launched by the ministry of labour and employment tracks unorganised sector workers including migrants. A 2024 report by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council stated that the number of domestic migrants declined by 11.8% to 40.2 crore between 2011 and 2023. "This was on account of improved conditions and opportunities at the places of origin," it 2020-21, the overall migration rate was 28.9%, significantly higher among women at 47.9% compared to 10.7% for men, according to the PLFS data. For women, marriage was the key reason for migration, while for men it was employment. Across regions, urban areas recorded a higher migration rate of 34.9% than rural areas at 26.5%.The ministry also aims to include age-disaggregated data on individuals not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the PLFS schedule from July, ET reported earlier.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Labour force survey may include migration trends
The statistics ministry is considering adding migration data to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in 2026 to better understand labor demand and improve government policies. This inclusion aims to enhance the effectiveness of welfare schemes like 'One Nation One Ration Card'. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The statistics ministry is considering the inclusion of migration data in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2026, a government official told ET."Discussions are underway to include this data point in the survey," the official migration data is expected to help identify regions with high labour demand and better inform employment and welfare strategies of government information on migrants is crucial for designing and delivering welfare schemes like the ' One Nation One Ration Card '.The initiative is part of the broader effort by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation ( MoSPI ) to make employment data more robust and such as whether an individual moved from their previous usual place of residence and why they shifted cities or states may become part of the 2026 survey design. The data will be collected across states and is expected to be released in present, the PLFS covers indicators such as unemployment rate , labour force participation rate (LFPR), and worker population ratio across rural and urban areas. While the current design does not focus on capturing information on migration, such data was collected once during the 2020-21 say this will offer deeper insights from business as well as policy making perspective."This will enrich the tracking of economic activity and employment trends , given the diversity of India's labour market across regions," said Sakshi Gupta, principal economist at HDFC Bank A person is classified as a migrant if their current residence differs from their last usual place of residence."For many social welfare schemes, information on migration makes your targeting more efficient," said the e-shram portal launched by the ministry of labour and employment tracks unorganised sector workers including migrants.A 2024 report by the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council stated that the number of domestic migrants declined by 11.8% to 40.2 crore between 2011 and 2023. "This was on account of improved conditions and opportunities at the places of origin," it 2020-21, the overall migration rate was 28.9%, significantly higher among women at 47.9% compared to 10.7% for men, according to the PLFS data. For women, marriage was the key reason for migration, while for men it was employment. Across regions, urban areas recorded a higher migration rate of 34.9% than rural areas at 26.5%.The ministry also aims to include age-disaggregated data on individuals not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the PLFS schedule from July, ET reported earlier.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
17 June 2025: Macron claims Trump offered to mediate Israel-Iran truce
India Today Podcasts Desk UPDATED: Jun 17, 2025 19:18 IST On News at 7, this 17th June, Jamshed Qamar Siddiqui brings you the day's most crucial headlines. Macron claims Trump offered to mediate an Israel-Iran PM Modi faced protests by Khalistani extremists during the G7 summit in Canada. Finally, India's unemployment rate has climbed to 5.6% in May 2025, up from 5.1% in April, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Produced by- Garvit Srivastava Sound mix - Suraj Singh
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
India's job puzzle: Unemployment rises, seasons, sectors, redefine work
India Today Education Desk India's unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in April to 5.6% in May 2025 Female labour force participation in rural areas dropped to 36.9%, due to the end of the harvest season Rural jobs are slowly moving away from farming (from 45.9% to 43.5%), towards informal, unstable jobs in services and industry The latest Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the National Statistics Office, gives an updated picture of India's job situation. The May 2025 report shows a rise in unemployment, a drop in the number of working women, and a shift in rural jobs from farming to services and factory work. But beyond these figures is a deeper story â€' one where weather, social roles, and the timing of crop seasons affect who works, where they work, and when. Unemployment Rate: Comparison between April, May and male, female UNEMPLOYMENT UP, PARTICIPATION DOWN In May, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) â€' the share of people working or looking for work â€' for those aged 15 and above dropped slightly to 54.8%, from 55.6% in April. Rural India had a higher LFPR at 56.9%, while urban areas stood at 50.4%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) â€' which shows how many people are actually working â€' also fell, from 52.8% in April to 51.7% in May. The most noticeable change was in the Unemployment Rate (UR), which rose to 5.6%, up from 5.1% the month before. Youth aged 15–29 were hit hardest, with an unemployment rate of 15.0%. Young women in this group had an even higher rate of 16.3%, highlighting ongoing challenges in providing jobs for educated, young women. WOMEN STEP BACK FROM WORK The fall in female workforce participation was especially sharp in rural areas. The female LFPR in rural areas dropped to 36.9%, and the WPR for rural women was just 35.2%. In urban areas, it was even lower, at 23.0%. Labour Force Participation Rate Report: Comparative analysis of urban, rural India and male, female This drop is linked to the end of the Rabi harvest season, which meant fewer agricultural jobs. On top of that, many women from well-off rural families returned to household work, which reflects ongoing social expectations around unpaid care work. Despite more education and skill programmes, many women's jobs still depend on the season and their family role â€' making their participation in the economy fragile. FARMING GOES DOWN, SERVICES GROWING GRADUALLY Rural employment in agriculture dropped from 45.9% in April to 43.5% in May. While this shift away from farming might seem like progress, it raises questions. Are these workers moving to better jobs? Most seem to be moving into service and factory jobs, but these are often informal and not secure. Many rural workers simply wait out the gap between crop seasons without steady work. In urban areas, there were small drops in people working for themselves or as casual workers. Even in cities, many jobs remain uncertain and low-paying. This report also reflects a new survey method introduced in January 2025. The PLFS now uses a panel system, where selected households are visited four times over four months. This gives more frequent and timely job data. With over 89,000 households and 3.8 lakh people surveyed, the May 2025 report is the second monthly bulletin using this method. It offers a clearer view of how India's workforce changes each month â€' by location, gender, and season. ---- India's job landscape is changing. The economy is growing, technology is spreading, and cities are expanding. But the May 2025 data shows that work in India still depends heavily on the season, on whether you're male or female, and on whether you live in a village or a city. For the government and policymakers, the message is clear: it's not just about creating more jobs. It's about understanding why people stop working, what kind of support they need, and how to make jobs more reliable. Until then, India's workforce will keep shifting with the seasons â€' and the data will keep telling us what to look out for next. The latest Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the National Statistics Office, gives an updated picture of India's job situation. The May 2025 report shows a rise in unemployment, a drop in the number of working women, and a shift in rural jobs from farming to services and factory work. But beyond these figures is a deeper story â€' one where weather, social roles, and the timing of crop seasons affect who works, where they work, and when. Unemployment Rate: Comparison between April, May and male, female UNEMPLOYMENT UP, PARTICIPATION DOWN In May, the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) â€' the share of people working or looking for work â€' for those aged 15 and above dropped slightly to 54.8%, from 55.6% in April. Rural India had a higher LFPR at 56.9%, while urban areas stood at 50.4%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) â€' which shows how many people are actually working â€' also fell, from 52.8% in April to 51.7% in May. The most noticeable change was in the Unemployment Rate (UR), which rose to 5.6%, up from 5.1% the month before. Youth aged 15–29 were hit hardest, with an unemployment rate of 15.0%. Young women in this group had an even higher rate of 16.3%, highlighting ongoing challenges in providing jobs for educated, young women. WOMEN STEP BACK FROM WORK The fall in female workforce participation was especially sharp in rural areas. The female LFPR in rural areas dropped to 36.9%, and the WPR for rural women was just 35.2%. In urban areas, it was even lower, at 23.0%. Labour Force Participation Rate Report: Comparative analysis of urban, rural India and male, female This drop is linked to the end of the Rabi harvest season, which meant fewer agricultural jobs. On top of that, many women from well-off rural families returned to household work, which reflects ongoing social expectations around unpaid care work. Despite more education and skill programmes, many women's jobs still depend on the season and their family role â€' making their participation in the economy fragile. FARMING GOES DOWN, SERVICES GROWING GRADUALLY Rural employment in agriculture dropped from 45.9% in April to 43.5% in May. While this shift away from farming might seem like progress, it raises questions. Are these workers moving to better jobs? Most seem to be moving into service and factory jobs, but these are often informal and not secure. Many rural workers simply wait out the gap between crop seasons without steady work. In urban areas, there were small drops in people working for themselves or as casual workers. Even in cities, many jobs remain uncertain and low-paying. This report also reflects a new survey method introduced in January 2025. The PLFS now uses a panel system, where selected households are visited four times over four months. This gives more frequent and timely job data. With over 89,000 households and 3.8 lakh people surveyed, the May 2025 report is the second monthly bulletin using this method. It offers a clearer view of how India's workforce changes each month â€' by location, gender, and season. ---- India's job landscape is changing. The economy is growing, technology is spreading, and cities are expanding. But the May 2025 data shows that work in India still depends heavily on the season, on whether you're male or female, and on whether you live in a village or a city. For the government and policymakers, the message is clear: it's not just about creating more jobs. It's about understanding why people stop working, what kind of support they need, and how to make jobs more reliable. Until then, India's workforce will keep shifting with the seasons â€' and the data will keep telling us what to look out for next. Join our WhatsApp Channel
India Today
4 days ago
- Business
- India Today
India's unemployment rate rises to 5.6% in May 2025
India's unemployment rate climbed to 5.6% in May 2025 from 5.1% in April, as reported by the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). This increase reflects a rising challenge for job seekers across both rural and urban areas, notably among young people and women. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) also observed a broader decline in employment due to several seasonal areas saw a considerable rise in unemployment among those aged 15–29, with the rate reaching 13.7% in May from 12.3% in April. The situation was similarly difficult for urban youth, where unemployment marginally increased to 17.9% from 17.2% the previous month. Overall, rural unemployment stood at 5.4%, while urban unemployment was slightly higher at 5.9%.The end of the Rabi harvest season, which traditionally leads to reduced farm-related employment, significantly impacted rural job figures. MoSPI reported a decrease in primary sector employment from 45.9% in April to 43.5% in May. This seasonal shift is common, though this year it coincided with additional challenges such as higher-than-normal temperatures that discouraged outdoor work. The labor force participation rate (LFPR) dropped to 54.8% in May from 55.6% in April. Rural areas recorded an LFPR of 56.9%, whereas urban areas stood at 50.4%. This decline indicates fewer individuals were either employed or actively seeking work in terms of the Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which reflects the proportion of the working individuals within the population, there was a decline to 51.7% in May from 52.8% in April. Rural areas had a WPR of 54.1%, while urban areas were at 46.9%.Female unemployment rose slightly to 5.8% in May, compared to 5.6% among males. The LFPR among rural women was 36.9%, significantly higher than the 22.6% recorded for urban women. Overall, the female LFPR was 33.1%, with an overall female WPR of 31.3% across noted that the decline in female labour force participation, particularly in rural households of higher-income groups, could be attributed to unpaid helpers temporarily leaving the workforce to manage domestic responsibilities. These shifts were compounded by environmental factors such as unusually high temperatures, which hindered outdoor urban areas, the unemployment rate rose more modestly, with a slight decline seen in own-account workers and casual labourers. The ministry highlighted that monthly PLFS estimates can be influenced by seasonal, academic, and cyclical employment trends and should not be interpreted as long-term structural changes in the labour unemployment trends highlight the need for adaptable employment strategies to address the diverse challenges posed by seasonal conditions and demographic shifts. This calls for targeted policies that can mitigate the adverse effects of seasonal employment fluctuations and promote sustainable job the data underscores the importance of understanding the nuanced dynamics of the labor market to formulate effective interventions that can support both immediate recovery and long-term resilience in Watch
