Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Periodic Labour Force Survey  – Annual Report [July, 2020 – June, 2021]
A. Introduction
Considering the importance of availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, National Statistical Office  launched Periodic Labour Force Survey  in April 2017.
The objective of PLFS is primarily twofold:
- to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators  in the short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ .
- to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both ‘Usual Status’  and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
Three Annual Reports covering both rural and urban areas giving estimates of all important parameters of employment and unemployment in both usual status  and current weekly status  have been released. These three Annual Reports are brought out on the basis of data collected in PLFS during July 2017- June 2018, July 2018-June 2019 and July 2019-June 2020.
Now the fourth Annual Report is being brought out by NSO on the basis of Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted during July 2020-June 2021.
B. PLFS fieldwork during COVID-19 pandemic
The fieldwork of PLFS was suspended first time from 18.03.2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, and was resumed in June 2020 with the pending samples for this period. This, therefore, had a spill-over effect in completion of field work allotted for the survey period July 2020 to June 2021. Subsequently, there was another spill-over effect due to the 2nd wave of COVID-19 when the field work of PLFS was again suspended in April 2021 in most parts of the country. The field work was gradually resumed in the first week of June 2021 with COVID-19 related restrictions. First visit samples were canvassed physically with retrospective referencing in case of delayed samples. Field work for collection of information in respect of the selected samples of the survey period July 2020-June 2021, was completed by 30.09.2021.
C. Sample Design of PLFS
- A rotational panel sampling design has been used in urban areas. In this rotational panel scheme, each, selected household in urban areas is visited four times, in the beginning with ‘First Visit Schedule’ and thrice periodically later with a ‘Revisit Schedule’. In urban area, samples for a panel within each stratum were drawn in the form of two independent sub-samples. The scheme of rotation ensures that 75% of the first-stage sampling units [1] are matched between two consecutive visits. There was no revisit in the rural samples. For rural areas, samples for a stratum/sub-stratum were drawn randomly in the form of two independent sub-samples. For rural areas, in each quarter of the survey period, 25% FSUs of annual allocation were covered.
D. Sampling method
- Sample Size for First Visit during July 2020- June 2021 in rural and urban areas for the Annual Report:Out of the total number of 12,800 FSUs  allotted for the survey at the all-India level during July 2020- June 2021, a total of 12,562 FSUs  were surveyed for canvassing the PLFS schedule . The number of households surveyed was 1,00,344  and number of persons surveyed was 4,10,818 .
- Conceptual Framework of Key Employment and Unemployment Indicators: The Periodic Labour Force Survey  gives estimates of Key employment and unemployment Indicators like, the Labour Force Participation Rates , Worker Population Ratio , Unemployment Rate , etc. These indicators, and the ‘Usual Status’ and ‘Current Weekly Status’ are defined as follows:
- Labour Force Participation Rate : LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in labour force in the population.
- Worker Population Ratio : WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.
- Unemployment Rate : UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.
- Activity Status- Usual Status: The activity status of a person is determined on the basis of the activities pursued by the person during the specified reference period. When the activity status is determined on the basis of the reference period of last 365 days preceding the date of survey, it is known as the usual activity status of the person.
- Activity Status- Current Weekly Status : The activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of last 7 days preceding the date of survey is known as the current weekly status  of the person.
The Annual Report on PLFS 2020-21 is available at the website of the Ministry. The key results are given in the statements annexed.
Key Findings of PLFS, Annual Report 2020- 2021
Statement 1: LFPR, WPR and UR  in usual statusduring PLFS, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18for persons of all ages
|
|
all-India
|
|
Rates
|
|
Rural
|
|
Urban
|
|
Rural+Urban
|
|
male
|
|
female
|
|
person
|
|
male
|
|
female
|
|
person
|
|
male
|
|
female
|
|
person
|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|
PLFS 2020-21
|
|
LFPR
|
|
57.1
|
|
27.7
|
|
42.7
|
|
58.4
|
|
18.6
|
|
38.9
|
|
57.5
|
|
25.1
|
|
41.6
|
|
WPR
|
|
54.9
|
|
27.1
|
|
41.3
|
|
54.9
|
|
17.0
|
|
36.3
|
|
54.9
|
|
24.2
|
|
39.8
|
|
UR
|
|
3.9
|
|
2.1
|
|
3.3
|
|
6.1
|
|
8.6
|
|
6.7
|
|
4.5
|
|
3.5
|
|
4.2
|
|
PLFS 2019-20
|
|
LFPR
|
|
56.3
|
|
24.7
|
|
40.8
|
|
57.8
|
|
18.5
|
|
38.6
|
|
56.8
|
|
22.8
|
|
40.1
|
|
WPR
|
|
53.8
|
|
24.0
|
|
39.2
|
|
54.1
|
|
16.8
|
|
35.9
|
|
53.9
|
|
21.8
|
|
38.2
|
|
UR
|
|
4.5
|
|
2.6
|
|
4.0
|
|
6.4
|
|
8.9
|
|
7.0
|
|
5.1
|
|
4.2
|
|
4.8
|
|
PLFS 2018-19
|
|
LFPR
|
|
55.1
|
|
19.7
|
|
37.7
|
|
56.7
|
|
16.1
|
|
36.9
|
|
55.6
|
|
18.6
|
|
37.5
|
|
WPR
|
|
52.1
|
|
19.0
|
|
35.8
|
|
52.7
|
|
14.5
|
|
34.1
|
|
52.3
|
|
17.6
|
|
35.3
|
|
UR
|
|
5.6
|
|
3.5
|
|
5.0
|
|
7.1
|
|
9.9
|
|
7.7
|
|
6.0
|
|
5.2
|
|
5.8
|
|
PLFS 2017-18
|
|
LFPR
|
|
54.9
|
|
18.2
|
|
37.0
|
|
57.0
|
|
15.9
|
|
36.8
|
|
55.5
|
|
17.5
|
|
36.9
|
|
WPR
|
|
51.7
|
|
17.5
|
|
35.0
|
|
53.0
|
|
14.2
|
|
33.9
|
|
52.1
|
|
16.5
|
|
34.7
|
|
UR
|
|
5.8
|
|
3.8
|
|
5.3
|
|
7.1
|
|
10.8
|
|
7.8
|
|
6.2
|
|
5.7
|
|
6.1
|
|
Note:= 
2020-21 refers to the period July 2020 – June 2021 and likewise for 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18
Principal activity status- The activity status on which a person spent relatively long time  during 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the usual principal activity status of the person.
Subsidiary economic activity status- The activity status in which a person in addition to his/her usual principal status, performs some economic activity for 30 days or more for the reference period of 365 days preceding the date of survey, was considered the subsidiary economic status of the person.
Statement2: WPRs  in usual status  by different levels of education among persons of age 15 years and above during PLFS 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18
all‑India
|
|
category of persons
|
|
highest level of education successfully completed
|
|
|
|
not literate
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|
literate &upto primary
|
|
middle
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|
secondary
|
|
higher secondary
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|
diploma/ certificate course
|
|
graduate
|
|
post graduate & above
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|
secondary & above
|
|
all
|
|
|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|
|
|
|
|
PLFS 2020-21
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
80.3
|
|
87.2
|
|
77.9
|
|
64.6
|
|
58.6
|
|
74.9
|
|
72.5
|
|
79.3
|
|
65.0
|
|
75.1
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
43.5
|
|
42.6
|
|
31.7
|
|
23.8
|
|
19.3
|
|
40.0
|
|
23.5
|
|
38.1
|
|
23.1
|
|
35.8
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
56.1
|
|
65.1
|
|
58.1
|
|
47.5
|
|
42.4
|
|
64.9
|
|
53.5
|
|
62.6
|
|
48.0
|
|
55.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
Urban
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
75.3
|
|
81.5
|
|
74.8
|
|
62.5
|
|
53.8
|
|
73.1
|
|
71.7
|
|
78.2
|
|
65.1
|
|
70.0
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
25.5
|
|
24.7
|
|
18.3
|
|
13.1
|
|
13.1
|
|
38.2
|
|
23.6
|
|
36.9
|
|
19.6
|
|
21.2
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
41.3
|
|
51.5
|
|
48.7
|
|
39.9
|
|
35.0
|
|
63.4
|
|
50.3
|
|
57.8
|
|
44.6
|
|
45.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural+Urban
|
|
male
|
|
79.5
|
|
85.9
|
|
77.1
|
|
63.9
|
|
57.0
|
|
74.0
|
|
72.1
|
|
78.6
|
|
65.1
|
|
73.5
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
40.3
|
|
37.9
|
|
27.8
|
|
20.0
|
|
16.9
|
|
39.1
|
|
23.5
|
|
37.3
|
|
21.5
|
|
31.4
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
53.6
|
|
61.7
|
|
55.5
|
|
44.9
|
|
39.7
|
|
64.2
|
|
51.8
|
|
59.4
|
|
46.5
|
|
52.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLFS 2019-20
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
79.6
|
|
86.5
|
|
76.6
|
|
64.4
|
|
57.6
|
|
73.4
|
|
69.0
|
|
78.3
|
|
63.9
|
|
74.4
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
39.4
|
|
36.3
|
|
27.4
|
|
21.6
|
|
18.1
|
|
38.6
|
|
21.1
|
|
38.3
|
|
21.3
|
|
32.2
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
53.3
|
|
62.3
|
|
55.3
|
|
46.8
|
|
41.2
|
|
63.9
|
|
50.9
|
|
61.8
|
|
46.8
|
|
53.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Urban
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
75.8
|
|
81.9
|
|
74.3
|
|
62.7
|
|
54.5
|
|
72.9
|
|
70.1
|
|
78.4
|
|
65.0
|
|
69.9
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
25.2
|
|
23.6
|
|
17.8
|
|
12.0
|
|
12.7
|
|
37.8
|
|
26.0
|
|
38.1
|
|
20.2
|
|
21.3
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
41.7
|
|
51.2
|
|
47.6
|
|
40.3
|
|
35.3
|
|
63.7
|
|
50.4
|
|
58.5
|
|
45.0
|
|
45.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural+Urban
|
|
male
|
|
78.9
|
|
85.4
|
|
76.0
|
|
63.8
|
|
56.5
|
|
73.1
|
|
69.6
|
|
78.4
|
|
64.4
|
|
73.0
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
36.8
|
|
32.8
|
|
24.4
|
|
18.0
|
|
15.8
|
|
38.2
|
|
24.1
|
|
38.1
|
|
20.8
|
|
28.7
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
51.3
|
|
59.5
|
|
53.0
|
|
44.5
|
|
38.8
|
|
63.8
|
|
50.6
|
|
59.5
|
|
46.0
|
|
50.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLFS 2018-19
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
76.5
|
|
85.6
|
|
74.7
|
|
60.5
|
|
55.8
|
|
66.4
|
|
69.1
|
|
75.4
|
|
61.3
|
|
72.2
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
30.7
|
|
29.8
|
|
21.0
|
|
17.2
|
|
13.8
|
|
34.3
|
|
18.4
|
|
31.5
|
|
17.1
|
|
25.5
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
46.7
|
|
58.4
|
|
51.7
|
|
42.9
|
|
38.6
|
|
57.4
|
|
50.2
|
|
59.0
|
|
43.7
|
|
48.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
Urban
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
72.6
|
|
80.2
|
|
73.1
|
|
60.6
|
|
52.3
|
|
73.7
|
|
69.5
|
|
79.9
|
|
63.8
|
|
68.6
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
21.9
|
|
20.6
|
|
15.9
|
|
9.9
|
|
9.5
|
|
34.0
|
|
23.1
|
|
36.8
|
|
17.3
|
|
18.4
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
38.0
|
|
49.6
|
|
46.2
|
|
37.8
|
|
32.5
|
|
63.3
|
|
49.1
|
|
59.5
|
|
43.1
|
|
43.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural+Urban
|
|
male
|
|
75.9
|
|
84.2
|
|
74.2
|
|
60.5
|
|
54.5
|
|
70.4
|
|
69.3
|
|
78.4
|
|
62.3
|
|
71.0
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
29.1
|
|
27.3
|
|
19.3
|
|
14.5
|
|
12.0
|
|
34.1
|
|
21.3
|
|
35.5
|
|
17.2
|
|
23.3
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
45.2
|
|
56.1
|
|
50.1
|
|
41.1
|
|
36.2
|
|
60.6
|
|
49.6
|
|
59.3
|
|
43.4
|
|
47.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
PLFS 2017-18
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
78.7
|
|
85.1
|
|
73.3
|
|
61.0
|
|
54.4
|
|
59.7
|
|
66.2
|
|
75.9
|
|
60.3
|
|
72.0
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
29.1
|
|
26.0
|
|
18.3
|
|
15.6
|
|
12.5
|
|
34.9
|
|
18.6
|
|
31.1
|
|
16.0
|
|
23.7
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
46.7
|
|
56.0
|
|
50.0
|
|
43.1
|
|
38.0
|
|
52.6
|
|
48.9
|
|
59.8
|
|
43.3
|
|
48.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Urban
|
|
|
|
male
|
|
76.2
|
|
80.2
|
|
73.8
|
|
62.1
|
|
51.5
|
|
69.8
|
|
71.1
|
|
77.6
|
|
63.9
|
|
69.3
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
21.6
|
|
21.7
|
|
13.8
|
|
10.6
|
|
9.9
|
|
32.8
|
|
22.8
|
|
35.7
|
|
17.3
|
|
18.2
|
|
|
|
person
|
|
38.7
|
|
50.7
|
|
45.3
|
|
38.8
|
|
32.3
|
|
59.6
|
|
50.2
|
|
57.1
|
|
43.1
|
|
43.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rural+Urban
|
|
male
|
|
78.3
|
|
83.8
|
|
73.4
|
|
61.4
|
|
53.3
|
|
65.1
|
|
68.8
|
|
76.9
|
|
61.8
|
|
71.2
|
|
|
|
female
|
|
27.7
|
|
24.9
|
|
16.9
|
|
13.7
|
|
11.4
|
|
33.8
|
|
21.2
|
|
34.5
|
|
16.6
|
|
22.0
|
|
|
|
Person
|
|
45.3
|
|
54.6
|
|
48.7
|
|
41.6
|
|
35.8
|
|
56.4
|
|
49.7
|
|
57.9
|
|
43.2
|
|
46.8
|
|
|
|
2020-21 refers to the period July 2020 – June 2021 and likewise for 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18
|
|
Statement3: Percentage distribution of workers in usual status  by status in employment during PLFS 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18
all‑India
|
|
Survey period
|
|
male
|
|
female
|
|
self-
employed
|
|
regular wage/ salaried employees
|
|
casual
labour
|
|
self-
employed
|
|
regular wage/ salaried employees
|
|
casual
labour
|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|

|
|
PLFS 2020-21
|
|
Rural
|
|
59.7
|
|
13.6
|
|
26.8
|
|
64.8
|
|
9.1
|
|
26.2
|
|
Urban
|
|
39.9
|
|
45.3
|
|
14.9
|
|
38.4
|
|
50.1
|
|
11.5
|
|
PLFS 2019-20
|
|
Rural
|
|
58.4
|
|
13.8
|
|
27.8
|
|
63.0
|
|
9.5
|
|
27.5
|
|
Urban
|
|
38.7
|
|
47.2
|
|
14.1
|
|
34.6
|
|
54.2
|
|
11.1
|
|
PLFS 2018-19
|
|
Rural
|
|
57.4
|
|
14.2
|
|
28.3
|
|
59.6
|
|
11.0
|
|
29.3
|
|
Urban
|
|
38.7
|
|
47.2
|
|
14.2
|
|
34.5
|
|
54.7
|
|
10.7
|
|
PLFS 2017-18
|
|
Rural
|
|
57.8
|
|
14.0
|
|
28.2
|
|
57.7
|
|
10.5
|
|
31.8
|
|
Urban
|
|
39.2
|
|
45.7
|
|
15.1
|
|
34.7
|
|
52.1
|
|
13.1
|
|
2020-21 refers to the period July 2020 – June 2021 and likewise for 2019-20, 2018-19 and 2017-18
|
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Note: Detailed Results are available at the website of the Ministry