The National Statistical Office (NSO) recently publicized the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report for 2022-2023. This report, conducted from July 2022 to June 2023, provides invaluable insights into the employment sector’s current state. This article will discuss the report’s significant findings, explain essential employment terminologies, and examine the Government’s employment-related initiatives and different types of unemployment.
Deciphering Key Terms Related to Employment
Understanding some terms is crucial to comprehending the overall employment landscape. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) refers to the percentage of those aged 15 and above who are either employed or unemployed but seeking work. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), on the other hand, represents the percentage of employed persons in the population. The Unemployment Rate (UR) is the percentage of jobless individuals among those in the labour force.
The ‘activity status’ of a person gets based on their activities during a specific period. This can be subdivided into Principal Activity Status, Subsidiary Economic Activity Status, and Current Weekly Status, depending on the time spent on an activity and the reference period.
About the Periodic Labour Force Survey
Launched by the NSO under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in April 2017, the PLFS aims to measure India’s employment and unemployment scenario. It provides key indicators like the WPR, LFPR, and UR at intervals of three months for urban regions. Annually, it gives estimates for both rural and urban areas.
Government’s Initiatives Related to Employment
The Government has introduced several initiatives to improve the employment sector. These include Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE), PM-DAKSH, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the Start-Up India Scheme, and the Rozgar Mela.
Types of Unemployment: A Breakdown
Unemployment can be categorized into several types. Disguised unemployment is prevalent in the agricultural and unorganized sectors where more people are hired than necessary. Seasonal unemployment affects agricultural labourers who don’t work year-round. Structural unemployment arises from a mismatch between job availability and worker skills. Cyclical unemployment fluctuates with economic cycles, while technological unemployment results from automation-induced job losses. Frictional unemployment occurs when individuals switch or look for jobs. Lastly, vulnerable employment refers to informal, unprotected work that often leads to unrecorded employment.
Examining Previous Year UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions
Reviewing past questions can provide insight into potential examination patterns. For instance, the 2013 Prelims question focused on disguised unemployment, implying its marginal productivity is zero. A 2023 Mains question examined structural unemployment in India, asking candidates to scrutinize the methodology used to determine unemployment in the country and propose improvements.