NSO Plans Changes to Labour Force Survey Sampling Design for 2027

Introduction of New Sampling Design

New Delhi, Oct 23: The National Statistics Office (NSO) is set to revise the sampling design for the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) starting January 2027. This update will involve drawing new samples for the two-year period of 2027-2028 from a refreshed sampling framework. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced these changes on Friday.

The statement highlighted that insights gained from 'PLFS 2026' indicated that the current setup was insufficient in capturing the number of workers engaged in digital platforms. To address this, a new Second Stage Stratum (SSS) focused on digital platform work will be introduced, while maintaining the existing SSS structure.

In rural regions, there will be four SSSs, and five in urban areas, with each selected First Stage Unit (FSU) canvassing 14 households. This adjustment aims to enhance the representation of digital platform workers and improve data collection on this growing segment of the workforce.

A detailed concept note has been prepared, inviting feedback from policymakers, researchers, academic institutions, and the public on the proposed changes within a 15-day window.

New samples for the 2027-2028 period will be sourced from an updated frame that reflects the latest Urban Frame Survey, urbanization trends, and changes in administrative boundaries, including the rural Census 2011 updates.

This revised sampling framework is designed to better represent the current population, particularly in urban areas, by accounting for shifts in urbanization and the establishment of new urban locales. It is anticipated that this will enhance sample coverage and improve the reliability of PLFS estimates.

Moreover, the criteria for sample allocation and stratification have been adjusted based on experiences from the previous two-year period. These changes are expected to enhance the efficiency of sample allocation and ensure a more accurate representation of population variations, thereby reducing operational challenges during sample selection.

An additional binary question will be included to identify households with members who have engaged in digital platform work during the specified reference period. New inquiries will also cover aspects such as own-use production of goods, unpaid household and caregiving tasks, volunteer work, and unpaid trainee activities, contributing to a broader understanding of individual contributions to household and community welfare.

"For the initial three months starting January 2027, the sample will include FSUs from both the Panel 5 and the updated Panel 6 frames," the statement noted.

Pooled monthly estimates from both frames will be included in the monthly bulletins for these months, although Relative Standard Error (RSE) estimates will not be provided during this period. This strategy aims to ensure a seamless transition to the updated sampling framework while maintaining continuity in the release of monthly and quarterly labour market data.