Consider the following statements regarding Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Report: Statement I: Current Weekly Status (CWS) in urban areas is measured at the interval of three months. Statement II: Present Labour Force participation rate (LFPR) and Unemployment rate is in declining trend when compared with its base year 2017-18. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Periodic Labour Force survey

• The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is an important initiative by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in India, aimed at generating crucial data on employment and unemployment in the country.
• It was launched in April 2017 to provide more frequent and timely data compared to the earlier quinquennial (five-year) surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
• Quarterly Reports: For urban areas, providing data on current weekly activity status. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Annual Reports: Providing comprehensive data on usual status, current weekly status, and current daily status of workers in both urban and rural areas.

Key Aspects of Current Weekly Status (CWS)

• Employed (CWS): A person is considered employed if they worked for at least one hour on at least one day during the reference week.
• Unemployed (CWS): A person is considered unemployed if they did not work at all during the reference week but were available for work and actively sought work during that period.
• Not in Labor Force (CWS): Individuals who neither worked nor sought work during the reference week are classified as not being in the labour force.
• The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) represents the percentage of the working-age population (usually aged 15 years and above) that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
• Recent Trends in LFPR (as per the latest PLFS data): The overall LFPR in India has seen a gradual increase over the past few years. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2022-23, the LFPR for all persons aged 15 years and above was around 55.2%. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The Unemployment Rate (UR) is used to measure the percentage of people in the labour force who are actively seeking work but are unable to find employment.
• Recent Trends in India's Unemployment Rate: According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2022-23, the unemployment rate in India has been gradually decreasing after peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the survey, the unemployment rate was around 4.1% for the year 2022-23.