Statsguru: Lack of reliable jobs data is Achilles heel of policy making

The Absence of reliable and regularly updated data is the Achilles heel of policy making in India. Take the case of employment.

Analysts have been grappling with a fundamental question — are enough jobs being created for the millions entering the labour force each year? And more recently, what has been the impact of demonetisation and the GST on employment? But in the absence of data, it is difficult to answer such questions.

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) usually conducts surveys to estimate the employment status of the country. But, the last such survey was carried out in 2011-12.