Should India move towards real-time employment statistics?

Should India move towards real-time employment statistics?

Background:

• Current data: PLFS (annual + quarterly), EPFO/ESIC/NPS (administrative), CMIE (private).

• Problem: Delays in official surveys → policy blind spots.

• Real-time stats possible with big data (EPFO, GST, e-Shram, digital payrolls).

Balanced Answer: Yes, real-time statistics can improve policy response, but methodological rigor must be ensured. High-frequency data helps detect shocks (like COVID). However, real-time data often misses informal and rural workers.

Cross Q: 👉 Which model can India follow?

Response: Countries like the US release monthly jobs data via labour surveys. India should adopt a mixed model: continue PLFS for reliability, supplement with real-time administrative + big data.