The Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment recently published the data from the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) for the July-September 2021 quarter. According to the survey, total employment in nine crucial sectors reached 3.10 crore, noting an increase of 2 lakh compared to the April-June period.
About the All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) and QES
The All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES) incorporates the QES. This survey primarily focuses on establishments that employ ten or more workers in the organised sector. The targeted sectors include Manufacturing, Construction, Trade, Transport, Education, Health, Accommodation and Restaurant, IT/ BPO, and Financial Services. These sectors are pivotal as they account for most of the employment in non-farm establishments. The ultimate aim of QES is to facilitate the government in creating a robust national policy on employment.
International Commitment and National Employment Policy (NEP)
The QES draws its inception from India’s ratification of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Employment Policy Convention, 1964. As per the Convention, nations must put into action “an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment.” While India has committed to this international policy, it still lacks a National Employment Policy (NEP).
Comparison of QES and Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
The QES and National Sample Survey or Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) offer different perspectives on the state of the labour market in India. While QES gives insights into the demand side specifics, PLFS provides data on the supply aspect. National Statistical Organization (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), oversees the execution of the PLFS.
All-India Quarterly Establishment-based Employment Survey (AQEES)
The AQEES, helmed by the Labour Bureau, is responsible for providing frequent updates on data regarding employment and related variables in both organised and unorganised sectors. As with QES, the sectors targeted by AQEES make up the majority of total employment in non-farm establishments. The AQEES comprises two components: the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) and the Area Frame Establishment Survey (AFES). While the QES gives employment estimates for establishments employing ten or more workers, AFES focusses on the unorganised segment employing less than ten workers, gathering data through a sample survey.