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Counting Jobs in India
A detailed review of various sources of labour statistics in India highlights the lack of long-time series data on total employment. The Labour Bureau’s attempt since the last couple of years in this respect has been helpful. To gauge the accuracy of these estimates, it is desirable to have data from at least two sources. Dependence on one specific source can be risky.
The authors are indebted to the anonymous referee for constructive comments.
Internationally, countries depending on their size and degree of development compile quality information on job creation. In the United States (US), Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts monthly household and establishment surveys to generate information on employment and unemployment. Besides, a Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) also generates estimates on employment.
The establishment survey (also called payroll survey) covers non-farm wage and salary jobs. On a monthly basis, it covers approximately 1,46,000 establishments. The survey generates information on employment, hours of work, and earnings across industries and geographies in the country. Simultaneously, a monthly household survey is also carried out, covering approximately 60,000 eligible households every month. In addition, the QCEW is conducted and published with a six months’ time lag for the evaluated quarter. This shows that a sound system of statistics is in place for the generation of updated high frequency information on employment in the US. Many European countries also estimate employment quarterly.
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