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NSS / NSO surveys

Periodic Labour Force Survey (NSS / NSO)

NSO’s continuous labour-force series (from 2017–18), replacing the older quinquennial Employment–Unemployment Survey (EUS) design. Annual July–June microdata, calendar-year extracts, and quarterly urban CWS products sit in one family—always match the release year and product type.

Host: NSO / MoSPI

2023–24 (annual)2025 (quarterly / calendar)

Related series: HCES, TUS

When the design was revised

  • Pre-2017: NSS EUS (quinquennial)

    Before PLFS, employment–unemployment was measured mainly via large NSS EUS rounds (e.g. 61st 2004–05, 66th 2009–10, 68th 2011–12). Those thick rounds are not continuous and differ in schedule and frequency from PLFS—do not stack without redesign caveats.

  • 2017–18 launch

    PLFS launched to estimate key indicators quarterly for urban areas in Current Weekly Status (CWS) and annually for rural+urban in usual status (ps+ss) and CWS. First annual microdata: July 2017–June 2018 (NADA catalog/204).

  • 2017–18 → 2023–24 annual stack

    Seven July–June unit files on NADA: 2017–18 (/204), 2018–19 (/216), 2019–20 (/217), 2020–21 (/206), 2021–22 (/214), 2022–23 (/210), 2023–24 (/213)—including pandemic years.

  • Calendar / quarterly products

    Separate NADA products for calendar years (2021–2025 extracts) and quarterly unit files (e.g. 2025). Sampling revamped from Jan 2025 for higher-frequency indicators—match product type to research design.

Years available in this catalog

Each year opens the wave/edition record (access, variables, limitations).

  1. 2023–24 (annual)Design shift

    Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual 2023–24

    July 2023–June 2024 annual microdata (NADA catalog/213)—seventh full annual wave of PLFS.

    Registration required
    Open year

  2. 2025 (quarterly / calendar)Latest

    PLFS Quarterly / Calendar Year Releases

    Calendar-year / quarterly extracts after the 2025 design refresh—not a substitute for July–June annual microdata.

    Registration required
    Open year