The statistics ministry has established a 22-member high-powered experts committee to examine critical issues in India's labour market data collection and analysis. According to reports from The Times of India, the committee was constituted on June 9 and will be headed by Institute for Human Development (IHD) professor Alakh Sharma. The panel has been specifically tasked with strengthening labour market data to better understand employment patterns and trends in India's evolving workforce.
The committee's mandate encompasses several critical areas of labour market dynamics. As reported by The Times of India, the panel will examine informal sector employment, moonlighting, seasonal migration, and gig and platform work. Additionally, the committee will review the adequacy of existing labour market indicators and their publication timelines. The terms of reference specifically mention examining concepts, definitions, classifications, sampling and measurement frameworks adopted in labour statistics, particularly in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
The committee will conduct a comprehensive review of existing classification frameworks in labour statistics. According to the terms of reference reported by The Times of India, the panel will examine industry, occupation, status of employment, and enterprise characteristics. The committee will also focus on development of demand-side labour market indicators in India, including measurement of labour demand, job vacancies, labour turnover, occupational demand, skill requirements and job–skill mismatch. These technical aspects are crucial for improving the accuracy and relevance of labour market data.
The committee will operate with a term of two years and will include participation from multiple government departments. As reported by The Times of India, the panel will witness participation from Niti Aayog, labour ministry and skill ministry, along with education ministry. This multi-departmental approach ensures comprehensive expertise and coordination in addressing the complex challenges of labour market data collection and analysis in India's evolving economic landscape.
