The Indian labor force participation rates in the 1981 census show a rise of 37.2% over those of the 1971 census, while the population increased by 24.6%, but they remain far below the longterm trend obtained from census data from 1901-61. They are also much lower than the comparable rates obtained from recent records of the NSS; thus the 1981 census enumeration of workers clearly remains a relative undercount with a systematic pattern of relatively heavier undercount in the backward states. Adjustment for the underreporting of workers in 1981 shows that the change in the structure of the work force is also largely conceptual. Comparisons of labor related questions from the 1961 to 1981 censuses are presented, showing that the 1981 questions are less restrictive. NSS participation rate data from 1973-78 and census data from 1961-81 are compared: 1) urban work force participation rates for both males and females obtained from the 2 sources do not show any marked difference, 2) NSS 1973 rural rates are close to 1961 census rates, and 3) the NSS 1978 worker rate for females suffers from underreporting but is still much higher than the main worker rate of 1981's census. The shortfall in 1981's census is notably large when the all worker rate from the 2 sources is considered. The proportion of workers in agriculture remained constant between 1961-71 but declined between 1971-81 and the share of workers in fields other than cultivators and agricultural workers was 30.5% in 1961 and 30.2% in 1971, rising to 33.3% in 1981 but the trend is altered if adjustments are made for underenumeration of workers in 1971-81, changing to 30.5% (1971), 27.4% (1971), and 31.3% (1981), not a significant rise between 1971-81, a substantiated result. The absence of change in the structure of workforce from 1961-81 raises 2 issues: 1) the share of agriculture in national income has been declining, and 2) there has been accelerated growth of urban population and work force.