govt-to-release-job-data-monthly-from-may-15

In an important move towards greater transparency and data frequency, the Indian government will begin publishing unemployment data on a monthly basis starting 15 May, a senior official announced on Monday. This marks a departure from the current system, where such data is released quarterly.

 

The initial release, scheduled for 15 May, will include unemployment figures for the months of January, February, and March. Thereafter, the data will be issued each month, offering a more timely reflection of employment trends in the country.

 

"This is the first time we are implementing a monthly unemployment data release," said an official from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

 

The decision is expected to align India more closely with major global economies that provide high-frequency labour market updates.

 

Until now, the Indian government has released urban unemployment statistics on a quarterly basis, while combined rural and urban unemployment data was provided annually.

 

The move to monthly updates is aimed at improving policymaking and public discourse by offering more immediate insights into the state of the labour market.

 

According to the official, the data collection methodology is statistically robust and representative. Internal consistency checks are also being carried out to ensure accuracy and reliability.

 

In addition to this reform, the government plans to release private capital expenditure data by the end of April. From next year onwards, findings from a survey of service sector enterprises will also be made available.

 

Furthermore, the government is working on releasing data on the informal sector—captured in the annual survey of the unincorporated sector—on a quarterly basis. A periodic labour force survey for rural areas is also in the pipeline to be conducted quarterly.

 

"Data is the new oil, and it must be both credible and timely," the official emphasised. He also underlined that Indian statistical data continues to be regarded as robust, credible, and transparent on the global stage.