India to Count Gig Workers, Unpaid Work in PLFS
India is preparing to revise its Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2027 to improve the measurement of gig employment and unpaid household work. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation announced the proposed changes on October 23, 2026, aiming to provide a more comprehensive picture of employment, underemployment and emerging working patterns across rural and urban India.
India to Improve Gig Worker Data in Labour Survey
The revised survey will introduce a separate sampling category for digital platform workers, including people employed through app-based delivery, transport and other online services.
The government said its existing survey methods had not adequately captured this growing workforce.
According to the Economic Survey, India’s gig workforce expanded by approximately 55% over the five years ending 2025-26 and could represent around 2% of total employment.
The revised questionnaire will identify households with members engaged in digital platform work.
Unpaid Household Work to Enter Employment Survey
The government will also introduce questions covering unpaid domestic responsibilities, caregiving, volunteer activities, unpaid traineeships and production of goods for household consumption.
These questions will apply to individuals aged 15 and above in rural and urban areas, enabling annual reporting on activities often overlooked in conventional employment statistics.
Labour economist K.R. Shyam Sundar welcomed the inclusion of unpaid work but cautioned that focusing on digital platforms could overlook informal gig workers.
Recording unpaid activities will not automatically classify all such work as paid employment.
New Labour Survey Framework From January 2027
The National Statistics Office will introduce an updated sampling framework reflecting urbanisation, population changes and administrative boundary revisions.
Fresh samples will be drawn for 2027 and 2028, with transitional arrangements intended to maintain continuity in monthly employment estimates.
The government has invited public and expert feedback on the proposals until November 7.
The revisions could improve policymaking, although methodological changes may complicate comparisons with earlier employment statistics.
