India’s labour survey to soon include platform workers and unpaid household work
Benchmarks Nifty22,503.40-184.25FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund Regular Plan-Growth5Y Return8.69 % Invest NowFEATURED FUNDS★★★★★Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth5Y Return18.25 % Invest NowEnter search…
India will update its Periodic Labour Force Survey starting January 2027 to enhance data collection. The modified sampling design aims to improve the identification of digital platform workers and unpaid household activities. Additionally, the updated sampling frame will reflect changes in urbanization and administrative boundaries. New questions will capture information on unpaid caregiving and volunteer work. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback before the new sampling period begins.
India is planning to modify the sampling design and questionnaire of its Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2027 to improve data on digital platform workers, unpaid household activities and changing population patterns.The revised design will create a separate Second Stage Stratum for digital platform workers. The move follows the experience of PLFS 2026, which showed that the existing sampling arrangement did not identify enough platform workers.
The current Second Stage Stratum structure will continue, with four groups in rural areas and five in urban areas. Fourteen households will be surveyed in each selected First Stage Unit.
The National Statistics Office (NSO) said the new arrangement would improve the coverage of digital platform workers and support more detailed data collection on the emerging segment of the labour market.
An additional yes-or-no question will identify households in which at least one member has engaged in digital platform work during the specified reference period.
Live Events
The question will be asked in both rural and urban households. The information will help identify households eligible for inclusion in the new platform-worker group.
New sampling frame
The fresh samples will be drawn from an updated frame that reflects changes in urbanisation and administrative boundaries. It will also take into account the creation, division or merger of districts and other administrative units.The updated urban frame will be based on the Urban Frame Survey. The rural Census 2011 frame will also undergo follow-up updating.
The changes are intended to improve the representation of the current population, particularly in urban areas, by including new urban settlements and reflecting changes in administrative boundaries.
The NSO has also revised the criteria for sample allocation and stratification based on the experience of the previous two-year period, known as Panel 5. It said the changes would improve sample selection and reduce operational difficulties.
Three-month transition period
For the first three months from January 2027, the PLFS sample will include First Stage Units from both the existing Panel 5 frame and the updated Panel 6 frame.Monthly bulletins during this period will present pooled monthly estimates based on both frames. Relative Standard Error estimates will not be published for these three months.
The transition is intended to maintain continuity in the release of monthly and quarterly labour market estimates while the new sampling frame is introduced.
Survey to include unpaid activities
The revised Schedule 10.4 will collect information on own-use production of goods, unpaid household and caregiving work, volunteer activities and unpaid trainee work.These questions will be asked during the first visit in both rural and urban areas. They will cover people aged 15 years and above.
The new questions will allow the NSO to report annually on activities that are not usually captured in conventional employment data. The information is also expected to provide a wider picture of unpaid and non-market work and its contribution to households and communities.
The NSO has invited comments and suggestions on the proposed changes. Policymakers, researchers, academic institutions and members of the public can submit their views within 15 days of the press note’s publication.
The changes will be introduced when the NSO draws fresh samples for the two-year period 2027-2028, known as Panel 6.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onIndia labour surveyPlatform workersUnpaid household workLabour market dataPeriodic Labour Force SurveyUrban Frame SurveyNSO
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onIndia labour surveyPlatform workersUnpaid household workLabour market dataPeriodic Labour Force SurveyUrban Frame SurveyNSO Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition
KYB and KYC: Business behind the wealth creator called “Divi’s Lab” – Part 1
The global business of promising more
One company, 2 words. Bond yield and CDS: Will they decide the fate of global markets?
Business of Odd Things: Inside an industry that farms fish that nobody is meant to eat
War's second-order effects are becoming visible in critical sectors
US mid-term elections – Part 2: What does it mean for Trump to lose control of Congress?
- 1
- 2
- 3
& personalised newslettersLogin NowUnlimited AccessStarting @ Rs120/monthGet access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &
in-depth stock reportsSubscribe NowET
Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL
15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers
Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00
I'd rather pay ₹2599 nowUh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.
Worry not. You’re just a step away.
Prime Account Detected!
It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with
Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits
Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.
Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!
Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off
Student Only OfferAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In nowOffer Exclusively For You
Save up to Rs. 700/-
ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get 1 Year Free
With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
Get Flat 40% Off
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail OfferOffer Exclusively For You
ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month
Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year
Avail OfferSpecial Offer
Get flat 40% off on ETPrime
Avail OfferAvail OfferClaim NowAlready a Member? Sign In nowNeed Assistance?
Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance
+91 9484700004'; }); } if(listing) { var h3 = "You tried reading " + listArr.length + " locked stories in the past " + threshold + " days.", h4 = "Become an ET Prime member and don't miss out on these exclusive stories."; var html = '' + h3 + '
' + h4 + '
- ' + listing + '
What’s Included with
ETPrime Membership
1Exclusive Insights That Matter
Uncover the truth with our investigative stories
Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies
Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends
Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter
Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US
What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.
Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?
The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy
A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year
2Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas
Alpha Trade
Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts.
Investment Ideas
Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends.
Stock Reports Plus
All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals.
BigBull Portfolio
Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks.
Stock Analyzer
Check the score based on the company's fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks.
Market Mood
Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions.
Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily
Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts.
3Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper
ePaper - Print View
Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
ePaper - Digital View
Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday.
Wealth Edition
Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide.
TOI ePaper
Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.
Deep Explainers
Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions.
Health+ Stories
Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being.
Personal Finance+ Stories
Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance.
5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands
Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day.
Stories you might be interested in
Figures reflect the source report and its stated period. This article is for information and is not investment advice.
