Government Rejects Reuters Report on India’s Job Data

New Delhi, July 23 — The Indian government has strongly denied claims made in a recent Reuters report that questioned the reliability of the country’s official unemployment data.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment said the article was based on the opinions of about 50 unnamed economists, without using any verifiable data or detailed research. “It lacks independent, data-driven analysis and relies on a perception-based survey,” the Ministry stated.

The government criticized the report’s lack of transparency, saying it failed to name the economists or explain how they were selected. There was no information on whether their views were backed by proper surveys, data, or statistical standards.

The Ministry stressed that while expert opinions can be useful, they cannot replace large, scientifically conducted surveys. In contrast, India’s Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), run by the National Statistical Office (NSO), is based on international standards and covers both urban and rural areas using a detailed random sampling method.

Since January 2025, PLFS has been producing monthly estimates in addition to its yearly and quarterly data, allowing better tracking of job trends. Its methods follow guidelines from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and are also used by global agencies like the World Bank and UNDP.

The Ministry also highlighted the transparency of the PLFS, which shares all its methodology, sample design, and error margins openly, making it accessible to researchers and international institutions for verification.

According to PLFS data, India’s job situation has actually improved:

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose from 49.8% in 2017–18 to 60.1% in 2023–24.

• Worker Population Ratio (WPR) went up from 46.8% to 58.2%.

• Unemployment Rate (UR) dropped from 6.0% to 3.2%.

• Youth unemployment fell from 17.8% to 10.2%, better than the global average of 13.3% (ILO 2024 report).

These figures, the Ministry said, show more people are finding productive work, especially among the youth, and contradict claims of a worsening job market.