Where has all the jobs data gone?

Given the rapid changes in the Indian labour market, there is an urgent need to have current, accurate and publicly available data through regular, dynamic and comprehensive surveys

On January 28, 2019, the only two non-governmental members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) tendered their resignations. According to news reports, among the reasons for their departure was the government’s delay in releasing results of new employment survey data, despite being approved by the NSC. This is another development in the continuing question of missing critical labour data.  

Labour market data was typically collected by the National Sample Survey Organisation’s (NSSO) Employment-Unemployment Surveys (EUS) conducted once every five years. Employment and unemployment rates, women’s labour-force participation and other labour market indicators generated from these surveys are critical inputs for policy