LFS2022 Annualreport

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Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey

Annual Report - 2022

Department of Census and Statistics


Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey
Annual Report - 2022

(With Provincial and District level data)

Department of Census and Statistics


Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies
ISBN 978-624-6350-17-8
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Preface
Labour Force Survey (LFS) is one of the most important regular surveys conducted by the
Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka to obtain structure and characteristics of the
labour force, employment and unemployment. The total sample size for the annual survey
results for 2022 report were based on 25,750 housing units which were selected using a known
probability sampling technique. The field data collection was done by deploying well-trained
permanent field staff of the department using tablet computers with Computer Assisted
Personnel Interviewing Technique (CAPI). Since the field work is not an easy task, their
contribution should be especially appreciated. However, transformation of data collection
method from paper based method (PAPI) to CAPI gave lot of improvements for the survey
since 2017.

Before 1990, the LFS was conducted once in every five years. However, due to the high
demand for the quarterly results, especially to compile quarterly GDP estimates the survey
results were produced quarterly and final annual reports for each year were produced
compiling annual survey data since 1990. This is the 18th report in the Annual Report series.

It is important to mention here that new modules namely computer literacy, household
economic activities and informal sector employment were added to LFS since 2006 as per the
demand of such information from various data users. I hope the information in this report is
very valuable and useful to make evidence based decision making for various users to provide
best solutions for the labour market issues in the country.

Mr. P.M.P. Anura Kumara


Director General
Department of Census and Statistics

Department of Census and Statistics,


‘Sankyana Mandiraya’
No.306/71
Polduwa Road,
Battaramulla.

27 / 09 / 2023.

-I-
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Acknowledgements

This “Annual Report of the Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey, 2022” with provincial and district
level data is based on the total annual sample of 25,750 housing units, covering all districts of
the country.

Overall coordination of the survey was done by Ms. K.M.D.S.D.Karunaratne, Additional Director
General (statistics). Planning and execution of the survey was done by staff of the Sample
Survey Division under the guidance of Ms. K.A.S.Kodikara, Director (Statistics) and under the
direction of Mr. W.Gnanathilaka and Ms. M.D.D.D.Deepawansa, Deputy Directors.

The survey activities were organized and supervised by Ms. H.M.D.Sepalika, Mr.
A.K.D.C.N.S.Karunarathna, Mr. T.D.M.S.D.Perera, Ms. U.S.Dilrukshi, Mr. K.T.Sureskumar, Ms.
M.W.L.C.M. Chandrarathne, Ms. P.D.Nanayakkara, Ms. R.P.M.Subhashini, Mr.
H.M.S.C.Bandara, Ms. C.R.Liyanage and Ms. A.H.L.T.Sandaruwini, Statisticians of the sample
surveys division.

The computer data processing and final tabulations were done by Mr. A.M.A.E.Atapattu
Statistical Officer of the Sample Surveys Division, under the supervision of Mr.
T.D.M.S.D.Perera, Statistician. The Statistical Officers, Statistical Assistants, Development
Officers(iii), Information and Communication Technology Assistants, Data Entry Officers/Coding
Clerks and of the sample survey division are acknowledged for their valuable contribution
during the whole survey process.

The Information & Communication Technology Division, under the direction of Mr.
P.M.R.Fernando, Additional Director General (ICT) and under the supervision of Mr.
W.H.P.N.Weerasiri, Director (ICT), were responsible for implementing CAPI methodology and
preparation of data collection and computer edits programmes. Developing of sample
selection programme and its related computer software was done by Mr.
K.M.R.Wickramasinghe, Director (ICT).

This publication was organized and prepared by Mr. T.D.M.S.D.Perera, Statistician with the
support of Ms. M.W.L.C.M.Chandrarathne Statistician assisted by Mr. A.M.A.E.Atapattu
Statistical Officer under the guidance of Mrs. K.A.S.Kodikara, Director (Statistics) and Mr.
W.Gnanathilaka, Deputy Director, Sample surveys Division.

District staff of the Department who worked on the survey deserves a special word of thanks,
The Deputy Directors/ Senior Statisticians/ Statisticians supervised the survey and field
Statistical Officers, worked hard at the data collection stage, to make this survey a success.

Finally, I wish to express my appreciation to all the respondents of the survey for their valuable
cooperation.

II
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

SUMMARY STATISTICS

Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey - 2022


Summary Statistics on Labour Force Characteristics
15 years & over population

Indicator Total Male Female Urban Rural


Population (15 years & over) 17,161,973 7,914,636 9,247,337 2,895,122 14,266,851
Labour force in this age group 8,547,062 5,580,786 2,966,276 1,366,370 7,180,693
Labour force participation rate 49.8 70.5 32.1 47.2 50.3
Employed population 8,147,731 5,373,965 2,773,766 1,298,138 6,849,593
Employment rate 95.3 96.3 93.5 95.0 95.4
Unemployed population 399,332 206,822 192,510 68,232 331,100
Unemployment rate 4.7 3.7 6.5 5.0 4.6
Not in labour force 8,614,911 2,333,850 6,281,061 1,528,752 7,086,159

18 years & over population

Indicator Total Male Female Urban Rural


Population (18 years & over) 16,017,794 7,337,312 8,680,482 2,713,894 13,303,900
Labour force in this age group 8,514,683 5,555,114 2,959,569 1,364,088 7,150,594
Labour force participation rate 53.2 75.7 34.1 50.3 53.7
Employed population 8,122,286 5,354,261 2,768,026 1,296,161 6,826,125
Employment rate 95.4 96.4 93.5 95.0 95.5
Unemployed population 392,396 200,853 191,543 67,927 324,469
Unemployment rate 4.6 3.6 6.5 5.0 4.5
Not in labour force 7,503,111 1,782,198 5,720,913 1,349,806 6,153,305

20 years & over population

Indicator Total Male Female Urban Rural


Population (20 years & over) 15,335,927 7,014,050 8,321,876 2,609,054 12,726,873
Labour force in this age group 8,405,915 5,482,220 2,923,695 1,351,050 7,054,865
Labour force participation rate 54.8 78.2 35.1 51.8 55.4
Employed population 8,045,039 5,302,088 2,742,951 1,288,183 6,756,856
Employment rate 95.7 96.7 93.8 95.3 95.8
Unemployed population 360,876 180,132 180,744 62,867 298,009
Unemployment rate 4.3 3.3 6.2 4.7 4.2
Not in labour force 6,930,012 1,531,831 5,398,181 1,258,004 5,672,008

- III -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Selected Labour Force Indicators …

Year
Indicator
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Labour force participation rate
By Gender
Total 53.8 53.8 54.1 51.8 52.3 50.6 49.9 49.8
Male 74.7 75.1 74.5 73.0 73.0 71.9 71.0 70.5
Female 35.9 35.9 36.6 33.6 34.5 32.0 31.8 32.1
By residential sector
Total 53.8 53.8 54.1 51.8 52.3 50.6 49.9 49.8
Urban 48.6 49.8 50.5 49.6 50.2 47.0 46.9 47.2
Rural 54.8 54.6 54.8 52.3 52.7 51.3 50.5 50.3
Unemployment Rate
By Gender
Total 4.7 4.4 4.2 4.4 4.8 5.5 5.1 4.7
Male 3.0 2.9 2.9 3.0 3.3 4.0 3.7 3.7
Female 7.6 7.0 6.5 7.1 7.4 8.5 7.9 6.5
By selected age Group (Year)
20 – 29 14.2 14.2 13.5 15.0 15.3 18.1 18.3 16.2
20 – 24 19.7 19.9 17.8 20.1 20.3 25.2 26.8 21.8
25 – 29 9.4 9.2 9.5 10.4 11.0 12.0 11.4 11.7
By selected educational level
A/L & above
Total 9.2 8.3 8.1 9.1 8.5 9.8 9.1 7.8
Male 4.7 4.7 5.0 5.1 5.0 6.2 6.2 5.5
Female 13.5 11.9 11.3 13.2 11.9 13.6 12.2 10.1
Employed population
By Gender
Total 7,830,976 7,947,683 8,208,179 8,015,166 8,180,693 7,999,093 8,113,507 8,147,731
Male 5,097,798 5,149,948 5,279,158 5,300,310 5,368,896 5,372,947 5,414,280 5,373,965
Female 2,733,178 2,797,735 2,929,021 2,714,855 2,811,796 2,626,146 2,699,228 2,773,766
By industry (Percentage)
Total
% 7,830,976 7,947,683 8,208,179 8,015,166 8,180,693 7,999,093 8,113,507 8,147,731
Agriculture 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
% 2,244,547 2,153,874 2,140,185 2,043,698 2,071,940 2,169,679 2,213,015 2,158,559
Industry 28.7 27.1 26.1 25.5 25.3 27.1 27.3 26.5
% 2,018,171 2,097,503 2,331,494 2,239,262 2,258,421 2,152,746 2,109,482 2,158,199
Services 25.8 26.4 28.4 27.9 27.6 26.9 26.0 26.5
% 3,568,259 3,696,306 3,736,500 3,732,206 3,850,332 3,676,668 3,791,011 3,830,973
By no. of hours worked per week (percentage)
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
*
0 5.5 4.4 4.7 5.6 6.4 14.6 9.6 5.8
1–9 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.7 1.7 2.1 2.0 2.1
10 – 39 27.2 26.2 26.1 25.7 26.8 27.1 29.6 31.9
40 & above 65.7 67.9 67.5 66.9 65.1 56.2 58.7 60.3

* Has a job but not at work during the reference week

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Content
Page
Preface .............................................................................................................................. Ι
Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ ΙΙ
Summary Statistics............................................................................................................. ΙΙΙ

Chapter 1 : Introduction 1-2


1.1 General Background 1
1.2 Coverage of the Survey 1
1.3 Field Work 2
1.4 Survey Schedule and CAPI Programme 2
1.5 New Concepts and Classifications 2
1.6 Field Supervision 2
Chapter 2 : Survey Methodology and Estimation Procedure 3-6
2.1 Sampling plan and the sampling frame 3
2.2 Sample size 3
2.3 Sample Allocation 3
2.4 Selection of Primary Sampling Units (PSU) 3
2.5 Selection of Secondary Sampling Units (SSU) 3
2.6 Estimation procedure 5
2.7 Adjustment for unit non-response 6
Chapter 3 : Economically Active / Inactive Population 7 - 14
3.1 Economically Active Population 8
3.2 Distribution of Economically Active Population 8
3.3 Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) 9
3.4 Economically Inactive Population 11
3.5 Characteristics of the “Economically Inactive” Population 12
3.6 Economically Iactive Rate 13
3.7 Potential Labour Force 13
3.8 Discourage Job Seekers 14
Chapter 4 : Employment 15 - 22
4.1 Employment By Major Industry Group 16
4.2 Employment by Status of Employment 18
4.3 Employment By Level of Education 19
4.4 Employment By Occupation 19
4.5 Average Gross Wage/Salary & Income 20
4.6 Employment to Population ratio 22
Chapter 5 : Unemployment 23 -31
5.1 Unemployment Rate by Sector and Gender 24
5.2 Annual Unemployment Rates 25
5.3 Unemployment Rate by Province 26
5.4 Youth unemployment in Sri Lanka 27
5.5 Ratio of the youth unemployment rate to the adult unemployment rate 28
5.6 Youth unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment 28
5.7 Youth unemployment as a proportion of total youth population 29
5.8 The youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) group 29

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Chapter 6 : Underemployment 32 - 35
6.1 Criteria for classification of Underemployment 33
6.2 Distribution of Underemployment Rate 33
6.3 Underemployment / Unemployment by Province and District 34

Chapter 7 : Informal Sector Employment 36 – 39


7.1 The Informal Economy 37
7.2 Distribution of Informal/Formal sector Employment 37
7.3 Distribution of Informal sector Employment 39
Chapter 8 : Total Jobs in Sri Lanka with Secondary Employment 40 - 44
8.1 Secondary Employment in Sri Lanka 41
8.2 Total Jobs in Sri Lanka 43
Chapter 9 : Informal Employment in Sri Lanka 45 - 49
9.1 Concept of Informal Employment & Conceptual Framework 46
9.2 Distribution of Informal/ Formal Employment 47
Chapter 10 : Literacy 50 - 52
10.1 Distribution of Literacy Rate 51
Chapter 11 : Computer Literacy 53 - 57
11.1 Household Computer Ownership 54
11.2 Computer Literacy and Digital Literacy 54
11.3 Source of Computer Training 56
11.4 Internet and E-mail use 57
Statistical Appendix 58 - 82
Special Statistical Appendix 83 - 91

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

List of Tables

Chapter 2: Survey Methodology and Estimation Procedure


Table 2.1: Sample allocation by district – 2022 3

Chapter 3: Economically Active / Inactive Population


Table 3.1: Economically active / inactive population by gender – 2022 8
Table 3.2: Economically active population by gender and sector – 2022 8
Table 3.3: Percentage distribution of economically active population by gender and district – 9
2022
Table 3.4: Labour Force participation rates by age group, gender and sector – 2022 9
Table 3.5: Labour Force participation rates by gender and district – 2022 10
Table 3.6: Economically inactive population by gender and sector – 2022 11
Table 3.7: Economically inactive population by level of education – 2022 11
Table 3.8: Economically inactive population by age group and gender – 2022 12
Table 3.9: Reasons of being economically inactive by gender – 2022 12

Table 3.10: Percentage distribution of inactive population by stated reasons, age and gender – 12
2022
Table 3.11: Distribution of economically inactive rate by standardized age group – 2022 13

Table 3.12: Potential labour force by year and gender, 2019 – 2022 14

Table 3.13: Discourage Job Seekers by gender – 2022 14

Chapter 4: Employment
Table 4.1: Employed population by major industry group, 2016 – 2022 16
Table 4.2: Percentage distribution of employed population by major industry group for each 17
district – 2022
Table 4.3: Percentage distribution of employed population by employment status for each 18
district – 2022
Table 4.4: Employed population by employment status and by gender- 2022 18
Table 4.5: Employed population by occupation and gender – 2022 19
Table 4.6: Mean & median monthly gross salary by gender – 2022 20
Table 4.7: Mean & median monthly gross salary by sector – 2022 20
Table 4.7-1: Mean and median monthly gross salary by sector – 2022 20
Table 4.8: Mean & median monthly income by sector (for Own Account Workers and Employers) 20
– 2022
Table 4.8-1: Mean & median monthly income by sector (Own Account Workers and Employers), 20
2020 – 2022
Table 4.9: Mean & median monthly gross salary by major industry group – 2022 20

Table 4.10: Employment to population ratio by sector and gender – 2022 22

Table 4.11: Employment to population ratio by standardized age group & gender – 2022 22

Table 4.12: Employment to population ratio, 2016 – 2022 22

Chapter 5: Unemployment
Table 5.1: Unemployed number and unemployment rate by gender and sector – 2022 24
Table 5.2: Unemployment Rates, 2015 – 2022 24
Table 5.3: Unemployment rate by district – 2022 24
Table 5.4: Unemployment rate by age group and gender - 2022 25
Table 5.5: Unemployment rate by level of education – 2022 25
Table 5.5a: Unemployment of the Graduates – 2022 (Age 20 & above) 25
Table 5.6: Unemployment rate percentage distribution of employment status for each province 27
– 2022

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 5.7: Youth unemployment rate by Province, 2018 – 2022 27


Table 5.8: Youth unemployment rate by level of education, 2018 – 2022 28
Table 5.9: Ratio of the youth unemployment rate to the adult unemployment rate by gender, 28
2018– 2022
Table 5.10: Youth unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment by gender and level of 29
education – 2022
Table 5.11: Youth unemployment as a proportion of total youth population by gender and level 29
of education – 2022
Table 5.12: Youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) by gender, 2018 – 2022 30
Table 5.13: NEET rate (NEET group as a percentage to total youth) by gender, 2018 – 2022 30
Table 5.14: NEET rate (NEET group as a percentage to total youth) by level of education and 30
gender – 2022
Chapter 6: Underemployment
Table 6.1: Underemployment rate by major industry group – 2022 33
Table 6.2: Underemployment rate by gender, 2018 – 2022 33
Table 6.3: Underemployment rate by level of education and gender – 2022 34
Table 6.4: Underemployment rate / unemployment rate / percentage of informal employment 34
by district – 2022
Chapter 7: Informal Sector Employment
Table 7.1: Composition of Informal / Formal sector employment by economic sector – 2022 37
Table 7.2: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector employment by gender – 2022 37
Table 7.3: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector employment by level of education – 2022 38
Table 7.4: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector employment by employment status – 2022 38
Table 7.5: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector employment by main occupation – 2022 38
Table 7.6: Distribution of Informal sector employment in Non- Agricultural sector by district – 39
2022
Chapter 8: Total Jobs in Sri Lanka with Secondary Employment
Table 8.1: Distribution of employed population & total jobs by main and secondary job (2018 – 41
2022)
Table 8.2: Distribution of employed population by main and secondary job and by sector – 2022 41
Table 8.3: Percentage distribution of secondary employment by employment status & gender – 42
2022
Table 8.4: Distribution of secondary employment by occupation group – 2022 42
Table 8.5: Contribution of secondary employment to informal / formal sector by major industry 42
group – 2022
Table 8.6: Distribution of total jobs by sector– 2022 43
Table 8.7: Distribution of total jobs by level of education – 2022 43
Table 8.8: Distribution of total jobs by age groups – 2022 44
Table 8.9: Distribution of total jobs by major industry groups – 2022 44
Chapter 9: Informal Employment in Sri Lanka
Table 9.1: Conceptual framework informal employment – 2022 46
Table 9.2: Composition of informal / formal employment by economic sector – 2022 47
Table 9.3: Distribution of informal / formal employment by gender - 2022 47
Table 9.4: Distribution of informal / formal employment by level of education - 2022 47
Table 9.5: Distribution of informal / formal employment by employment status - 2022 47
Table 9.6: Distribution of informal / formal employment by occupation - 2022 48
Table 9.7: Composition of informal / formal employment in non-agriculture sector – 2022 48
Table 9.8: Composition of employment in non-agriculture sector by sex– 2022 48
Table 9.9: Percentage of informal employment in Non-agriculture sector - 2022 48
Table 9.10: Distribution of informal employees by job important characteristics - 2022 49

Chapter 10: Literacy


VIII
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 10.1: Literacy rate by sector & gender 2018 - 2022 51


Table 10.2: Literacy rate by district and gender – 2022 51
Table 10.3: Literacy rate by age group & gender – 2022 52
Chapter 11: Computer Literacy
Table 11.1: Percentage of computer owned households by sector, province and survey year, 54
2020 – 2022
Table 11.2: Computer literacy rate by sector, province and survey year, 2020 – 2022 55
Table 11.3: Computer literacy rate by gender, age, level of education and language literacy, 55
2020 – 2022
Table 11.4: Computer literacy among computer aware employed population (aged 15 – 69 56
years) by occupation, 2020 – 2022
Table 11.5: Computer literacy among unemployed population (age 15 – 69 years) by age group, 56
2020 – 2022
Table 11.6: Computer literacy rate and Digital literacy rate by gender, sector and age groups – 56
2022
Table 11.7: Percentage distribution of computer literate household population (age 5 – 69 years) 57
by sources of receiving computer knowledge and sector – 2022
Table 11.8: Percentage distribution of internet and e- mail using household population (age 5 – 57
69 years) by age groups, 2020 – 2022
Table 11.9: Percentage distribution of device use to connect to internet/ e-mail household 57
population (aged 5 – 69 years) by sex, sector and age groups – 2022

- IX -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

List of Figures
Page
Chapter 3: Economically Active / Inactive Population
Figure 3.1: Economically active population by gender and sector – 2022 8
Figure 3.2: Percentage distribution of working age population by economic status and 8
gender – 2022
Figure 3.3: Labour Force participation rate by gender and level of education - 2022 10
Figure 3.4: Labour Force participation rate by gender and age group – 2022 10
Figure 3.5: Annual labour force participation rates, 2016 – 2022 11
Figure 3.6: Economically inactive population by gender – 2022 11
Figure 3.7: Economically active and inactive population by age group – 2022 12
Figure 3.8: Reasons of being economically inactive – 2022 13
Figure 3.9: Discourage Job Seekers by gender – 2022 14

Chapter 4: Employment
Figure 4.1: Employed population by major industry group, 2016 – 2022 16
Figure 4.2: Employed population by major industry group – 2022 16
Figure 4.3: Share of agriculture, industry and service sector to the total employment by 17
province – 2022
Figure 4.4: Employment status by gender – 2022 18
Figure 4.5: Employed population by employment status – 2022 18
Figure 4.6: Employed population by major industry group and employment status – 2022 19
Figure 4.7: Employed population by level of education, 2016 – 2022 19
Figure 4.8: Average gross wage/salary by major industry group – 2022 21
Figure 4.9: Mean & median monthly salary of paid employees - district level – 2022 21

Chapter 5: Unemployment
Figure 5.1: Unemployment rate by gender & sector – 2022 24
Figure 5.2: Unemployment rate by age group and gender – 2022 25
Figure 5.3: Unemployment rate by gender, 2015 – 2022 25
Figure 5.4: Unemployment rates, 2015 – 2022 26
Figure 5.5: Unemployment rate by province – 2022 26
Figure 5.6: Share of contributing family workers to the employment for each province – 26
2022
Figure 5.7: Youth unemployment rate, 2018 – 2022 27
Figure 5.8: Youth unemployment rate by gender, 2018 – 2022 28
Figure 5.9: Youth unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment by Province – 2022 28
Figure 5.10: Distribution of youth population by different economic conditions – 2022 30

Chapter 6: Underemployment
Figure 6.1: Underemployment rate by major industry group – 2022 33
Figure 6.2: Underemployment / Unemployment rates by province – 2022 34

Chapter 7: Informal Sector Employment


Figure 7.1: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector employment by economic sector – 2022 37
Figure 7.2: Distribution of informal sector employment by major industry group – 2022 39

Chapter 8: Total Jobs in Sri Lanka with Secondary Employment

X
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Figure 8.1: Distribution of employed population by considering secondary job by major 41


industry groups – 2022
Figure 8.2: Distribution of employed population by considering main job by major industry 41
groups – 2022
Figure 8.3: Percentage distribution of secondary employment by employment status by 42
gender – 2022
Figure 8.4: Distribution of secondary employment by level of education – 2022 42
Figure 8.5: Contribution of secondary employment to the informal / formal sector by major 43
industry groups – 2022
Figure 8.6: Percentage distribution of jobs in Sri Lanka by gender – 2022 43
Figure 8.7: Distribution of jobs by major industry groups – 2022 44

Chapter 9: Informal Employment in Sri Lanka


Figure 9.1: Conceptual framework (17th ICLS Guidelines) 46
Figure 9.2: Distribution of total employment, informal employment, informal sector – 2022 47
Figure 9.3: Distribution of informal / formal employment by economic sector – 2022 47
Figure 9.4: Distribution of informal employment in non-agriculture sector by district – 2022 49

Chapter 10: Literacy


Figure 10.1: Literacy rates by district – 2022 51

Chapter 11: Computer Literacy


Figure 11.1: Percentage of desktop or laptop computer owned households by province – 54
2022
Figure 11.2: Distribution of computer literacy rate by educational attainment and language 55
literacy – 2020 – 2022
Figure 11.3: Percentage distribution of internet and e – mail using household population 57
(age 5 – 69 years) by age group – 2022

- XI -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

List of Maps
Page

Map 1: Sample allocation by district – 2022 4

Map 2: Labour force participation rates by district – 2022 11

Map 3: Unemployment rate by district – 2022 31

Map 4: Percentage distribution of employed population in agriculture sector by district – 2022 31

Map 5: Percentage distribution of employed population in industry sector by district – 2022 31

Map 6: Percentage distribution of employed population in service sector by district – 2022 31

Map 7: Underemployment rate by district – 2022 35

Map 8: Participation rate of informal sector in non-agriculture sector by district – 2022 39

Map 9: Literacy rate by district – 2022 52

Appendix
Page

Statistical Appendix 58 - 82

Special Statistical Appendix 83 - 91


Explanatory Notes 78

Standard Error and Coefficient of Variation table 88

Alternative Estimates 89

XII
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

List of Tables in Statistical Appendix

1. Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and
over – Both sexes
1A. Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and
over – Male
1B. Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and
over – Female
2 labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age – Both
sexes
2A. labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age –
Male
2B. labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age –
Female
3. Historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) – Both sexes
3A. Historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) – Male
3B. Historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) – Female
4. Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) – Both sexes
4A. Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) – Male
4B. Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) – Female
5. Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) – Both sexes
5A. Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) – Male
5B. Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) – Female
6. Currently employed persons by industry group – Both sexes (Based on ISIC fourth revision)
6A. Currently employed persons by industry group – Male (Based on ISIC fourth revision)
6B. Currently employed persons by industry group – Female (Based on ISIC fourth revision)
6C. Historical table of currently employed population by major industry group – Both sexes
6D. Historical table of currently employed population by major industry group (percentage) – Both
sexes
7. Currently employed persons by occupation group – Both sexes (Based on ISCO 08)
7A. Currently employed persons by occupation group – Male (Based on ISCO 08)
7B. Currently employed persons by occupation group – Female (Based on ISCO 08)
8. Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job and major
industrial group (percentage) – Both sexes
9. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (percentage) – Both sexes
9A. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (percentage) – Male
9B. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (percentage) – Female
10. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (percentage) – Both sexes
10A. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (percentage) – Male
10B. Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (percentage) – Female
11. Currently unemployed persons by sex and duration of unemployment
12. Labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district –
Both sexes

- XIII -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

12A. Labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district –
Male
12B. Labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district –
Female
13. Employment by major industry groups by district– Both sexes
13A. Employment by major industry groups by district – Male
13B. Employment by major industry groups by district – Female
14. Currently employed persons by occupation group (based on ISCO 08) by province – Both sexes
15. Currently employed persons by industry group (based on ISIC fourth revision) by province
– Both sexes
16. Currently employed persons by employment status by province – Both sexes
16A. Currently employed persons by employment status by province – Male
16B. Currently employed persons by employment status by province – Female
17. Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district
– Both sexes
17A. Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district – Male
17B. Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district –
Female
18. Unemployment rate by level of education by province – Both sexes
19. Unemployment rate by age group by province – Both sexes
20. Employment in formal/informal employment by status in employment – Both sexes

XIV
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 General Background A reweighting was applied to data series from


2011 – 2015 and was published in 2016 Annual
In the past, information on labour force report and by a special Bulletin. In 2017 Computer
characteristics, employment, and unemployment Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) was
etc. were collected through the labour force and introduced for the survey. At the end of year 2017
socio-economic surveys conducted at five year CAPI method was fully implemented throughout
time intervals. But the government required the the country and the Department Officers allocated
employment and unemployment data at very short to each DS Division used tablet computers to
intervals to monitor the progress of the collect data of Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey.
employment generating policies of the country.
1.2 Coverage of the survey
Therefore, to cater the demand, the Department of
Census and Statistics (DCS) designed a Labour LFS was conducted throughout the island during
Force Survey (LFS) on a quarterly basis to measure the first quarter of 1990. Thereafter, till year 2003
the levels and trends of employment, Northern and Eastern provinces were not covered
unemployment and labour force in Sri Lanka on a from the survey due to the prevailed situation in
continuous basis. This survey commenced from the those areas. In 2003, DCS was able to conduct the
first quarter 1990 with USAID technical assistance survey in Eastern province and in 2004 and 2005;
and is being continued by the DCS. the survey covered all 25 districts. Though it was
planned to conduct LFS covering whole Island, it
Since 1990, DCS was able to continue this survey
was not able to cover districts of Northern &
quarterly, except in second quarter in 2001 due to
Eastern provinces completely in 2006, 2007 years.
heavy work load of the Census of Population and
Since completed schedules received from those
Housing in 2001. Again, in 2005 due to Tsunami,
districts were not sufficient enough to give reliable
LFS was not implemented on quarterly basis as
estimates. Therefore, Northern and Eastern
scheduled. Because the staff of DCS were involved
provinces were not included in annual estimates of
the activities of “Census of Tsunami”, which was
2006 & 2007. From year 2008 onward the survey
conducted in February 2005 to provide the
covered whole country except Northern Province
information on impact of Tsunami. Also the sample
until 2011. From 2011 the survey covers all
frame, used for Household survey program had to
provinces of the country. However, due to the
be updated with the results of the “Listing
heavy work load of the Census of Population and
operation” conducted in Tsunami affected districts.
Housing – 2012, the survey could not be
Hence in 2005 August LFS was conducted as a
conducted in 4th quarter 2011 and 1st quarter 2012.
special survey at one point of time. Yet again in 4th
From 2013 onward, the survey covered whole
quarter 2011 & 1st quarter 2012 the survey could
country and conducted in all four quarters of every
not be conducted, due to the activities of Census
year.
of Population and Housing in 2011. However,
except these conditions the DCS was able to This 2022 report is based on an annual sample of
continue the survey successfully since 1990. The 25,750 housing units, also provides national,
information collected from LFS use to derive provincial and district level estimates with a
labour market indicators to monitor the current stipulated standard errors of labour force statistics
performance of the economy and also they are as reported in the relevant reference period of
used to evaluate government policies and each month of the year 2022. This survey covers
programs, and hence, LFS plays an important role persons living in housing units only and, it excludes
focusing several perspectives. the institutional population.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

1.3 Field Work


The field work of the survey for the year 2022 was The revisions focused on literacy, computer
conducted from January to December. The census literacy, household economic activities, informal
blocks prepared at 2012 population census were sector, employment and underemployment.
used as primary sampling units. Listing operation However, the comparability of data has
for primary sampling unit update was conducted, maintained.
at this survey.
1.5 New Concepts and Classifications
In 2017, CAPI was introduced in 1st quarter and the
field staff was trained. Eventually, at the end of From 2013, onward the working age population is
year 2017 CAPI method was established in all considered as aged 15 and above persons. Before
districts for data collection and manual editing also 2013 this was considered as age 10 years above.
had done where necessary. From 2013 onward, the survey uses Sri Lanka
Standard Classification of Occupation - 2008
The field staff of the DCS involved in survey data (SLSCO – 08) to classify occupations. This
collection activities specially trained for CAPI Classification is derived from the International
method. A Deputy Director/Senior Statistician/ Standard Classification of Occupation – 2008
Statistician attached to each District Secretariat are (ISCO – 08). Also, the survey uses Sri Lanka
responsible for coordination and supervision Standard Industry Classification Rev. 4 (SLSIC
activities at district level. Rev.4) derived from the International Standard
Industry Classification Rev.4 (ISIC Rev.4) for
1.4 Survey Schedule and CAPI Industry classification.
Programme

Current survey concepts and methods are very


1.6 Field Supervision
similar to those introduced at the beginning. Regular field supervisions were carried out
However, some changes have been made over the throughout the year to check the concepts and
years in 2006, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018 to definitions are being used by the enumerators
improve the accuracy and usefulness of the data. accurately.

Diagram 1: Components of Economically Active and Economically Inactive Population

Working Age Population

(15 years and above)

Economically Active Economically Inactive


Population Population
(Labour Force)

Employed Unemployed Full Time Persons Retired/ Infirmed/ Potential


Population Population Students engaged in Old Age Disabled Labour
HH duties Force

1
See the Attached Questionnaire

2
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER TWO

2.1 Sampling plan and the sampling Table 2.1: Sample allocation by district - 2022

frame
No. of No. of
Two stage stratified sampling procedure is District Housing District Housing
Units Units
adopted to select a sample of 25,750 housing
units to be enumerated at the survey. The Total 25,750 Mullaitivu 410
sampling frame prepared for 2012 Census of Colombo 2,420 Kilinochchi 410
Population and Housing is used as the sampling
Gampaha 2,600 Batticaloa 760
frame for the sample selection of LFS in 2022.
Kalutara 1,200 Ampara 900

2.2 Sample size Kandy 1,760 Trincomalee 540

At the beginning in 1990, the sample size was Matale 720 Kurunegala 1920

2,000 housing units per quarter in areas other than Nuwara Eliya 800 Puttalam 840
North and East, and the sample size was increased Galle 1,360 Anuradhapura 900
to 4,000 housing units per quarter in 1996 and
Matara 1,180 Polonnaruwa 660
continued thereafter. In 1992, 1997 and in 2004
Hambantota 900 Badulla 900
an annual sample of 20,000 housing units was
selected to give reliable estimates by district level. Jaffna 720 Monaragala 600
However, in order to provide district level Mannar 420 Rathnapura 1280
estimates precisely, it was decided to use 20,000 – Vavuniya 490 Kegalle 1060
25,000 housing units as the annual sample from
2006 to 2010. In 2022 25,750 Housing units were
2.4 Selection of Primary Sampling Units
selected for the sample.
(PSU)

2.3 Sample Allocation Primary sampling units are the census blocks
In 2022, 2575 Primary Sampling Units (PSU’s) were prepared at the Census of Population and
allocated to each district and to each sector Housing - 2012.
(Urban, Rural and Estate) by using the Neymann
allocation method which considers the variance of 2.5 Selection of Secondary Sampling
unemployment rate as usually. The allocated Units (SSU)
sample for each district then equally distributed
for 12 months. Table 2.1 gives the sample Secondary Sampling Units are the housing units
distributions by district for year 2022. in the selected 2575 primary sampling units
(census blocks). From each selected primary
The survey was conducted from January till sampling unit, 10 housing units (SSU) are selected
December in 2022. for the survey using systematic random sampling
method.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Map 1: Sample allocation by district – 2022

4
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

2.6 
Estimation procedure
Let X jk be the estimate of any given characteristic for jth district for the kth month.
This could be given by,

 1 m jk (u ) 1 N h (u ) nh (u ) 1 m jk ( r ) 1 N h ( r ) n h ( r )
X jk    X hi ( u )    X hi ( r )
m jk(r) h ( r )  1 P h ( r ) n h ( r ) i ( r )  1
mjk(u) h (u )  1 Ph (u ) nh (u ) i ( u )  1

1 m jk ( e ) 1 N h ( e ) n h ( e )
   X hi ( e )
m jk(e) h ( e )  1 P h ( e ) n h ( e ) i ( e )  1
Where
mjk (u ) = Number of census blocks selected from the urban sector of the jth district for the kth survey
month.
Ph (u ) = Selection probability of the hth census block in the urban sector.

Sjh ( u )
Ph ( u ) 
Mjh (u )
 Sjh (u )
h 1

Sjh (u ) = Measure of size (number of housing units) of the hth census block in the urban sector
of the jth district.
Mjh (u ) = Total number of census blocks in urban sector of the jth district.
th
Nh (u ) = Total number of housing units listed in the h census block in the urban sector.
nh (u ) = Number of housing units selected from the hth census block in the urban sector.
th th
Xhi (u ) = The observed value for the i sample household in the h census block in the urban
sector.
mjk(r), Ph(r), Sjh(r), Mjh(r), Nh(r), nh(r), and Xhi(r) are corresponding terms for the rural sector and
mjk (e), Ph (e), Sjh (e), Mjh (e), Nh (e), nh (e), and Xhi (e) are corresponding terms for the estate sector.

The estimate for the total value of a characteristic for the country for month k,

 25 
Xk  X
j 1
jk 1

The estimate for the total value of a characteristic for the jth district, based on all 12 rounds.

 12 
1
Xj
12
 X jk
k 1
2

The total estimate for the total value of a characteristic for the urban sector for the country,
based on all 12 rounds.

12 25 
 1
Xu 
12
 X
k 1 j 1
jk ( u ) 3

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Where


1 mjk ( u ) 1 Nh ( u ) nh ( u )
X jk ( u )    Xhi ( u )
mjk(u) h ( u )  1 Ph ( u ) nh ( u ) i ( u )  1
 
Similarly Xr and X e , Rural and Estate sector estimates for the country can be obtained.

2.7 Adjustment for unit non-response


The occurrence of unit non-response was determined by examining the final result code recorded under
control data section of the schedule. Based on the final result codes the households were grouped into
the following categories, which were used as a basis for adjusting for the unit non-response.

Category and description Result code


1. Schedule completed 1
2. Housing unit demolished or vacant 3
3. Unable to complete schedule, refusal, 2,4,5,6,7
temporarily away etc.

Category 1 and 2
These were considered as fully accounted for as a schedule was completed to the extent required by the
situation at the time of interview and therefore no adjustment was necessary.

Category 3
This is incomplete therefore, a non-response adjustment was made for this category. The assumption
made here for the adjustment of non-response was the proportion of households in category 3 is the
same as the corresponding proportion for sample households in category 1. This assumption is applied
on a block-by-block basis separately for urban, rural and estate sectors. The block weight before
adjusting for unit non-response was

mjk
1 1 Nh
W h 
mjk
P
h 1 h nh

Where, Nh = Total number of housing units listed in block h.


nh = Number of housing units selected in block h.
The revised weight should take the form
1
 n h  nh 2 
Wh  W h .  
 nh1 
Where, nh1 = Number of sample households in category 1.
nh2 = Number of sample households in category 2.
n1h = Total number of households in all categories (category 1, 2 and 3) = (nh)

6
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER THREE

Labour force or synonymously currently


economically active population is one of the
most widely used measures of the labour market.
HIGHLIGHTS
It measures employment and unemployment
situation of the economy and the current
Estimated Household
employment characteristics of the population. Population
(15 year & over)

Sri Lanka 17,161,973


Working Age Population: All persons of age 15 years
and above are considered to be in the working age Male 7,914,636
population (from year 2013 onward). Female 9,247,337

Economically Active Population: All persons who


are/were employed or unemployed during the
reference period of the survey are referred to as Labour Force (LF)
economically active (the reference period is “previous
Sri Lanka 8,547,062
one week” for currently economically active
population). Male 5,580,786

Economically Inactive Population: All persons who Female 2,966,276


neither worked nor available/looking for work during
the reference period.

LF Participation Rate
Labour Force: The labour force is composed of
currently economically active population 15 years of Sri Lanka 49.8
age and over.
Male 70.5

Female 32.1

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

3.1 Economically active population


percent of economically active population is male.
The “economically active population" is defined
The corresponding figure for Rural sector is 65.4
broadly as comprising of all persons above a
percent. Also percentage of economically active
specific age (15 years and above) of either gender
female population in Urban and Rural sectors are
who furnish the supply of labour for the
reported as 33.3 percent and 34.6 percent
production of economic goods and services
respectively and in the Estate sector, this value is
during a specified time (reference period). The
41.2 percent. The female participation is higher in
currently economically active population or the
the Estate sector compared to Urban and Rural
‘labour force’ is usually recognized as the sum of
Sectors.
‘employed’ and ‘unemployed’ population.

Figure 3.1:
3.2 Distribution of economically active
Economically active population by gender and
population
sector - 2022
In 2022, estimated economically active population
is around 8.5 million, and of that about 65.3 Estate 58.8 41.2
percent are male. That is about 5.6 million (Table Male
3.1).
Rural 65.4 34.6
Female
Table 3.1: Economically active / inactive population
by gender – 2022 Urban 66.7 33.3

Economically Economically 0% 50% 100%


Gender active inactive
No. % No. %
Figure 3.2:
Total 8,547,062 100.0 8,614,911 100.0
Percentage distribution of working age
Male 5,580,786 65.3 2,333,850 27.1 population by economic status and gender -
2022
Female 2,966,276 34.7 6,281,061 72.9

Economicaly 29.5%
Majority among the economically inactive Inactive 67.9%
population are females (72.9%). That is about 6.3
million. 38.7%
Employee
18.0%
Table 3.2: Economically active population by gender
Own account 25.2%
and sector - 2022
worker 7.6%
Gender
Labour Force

Sector Total
Male Female Contributing 1.3%
family worker 4.1%
No. 8,547,062 5,580,786 2,966,276
Total
% 100.0 65.3 34.7 2.6%
Employer
No. 1,366,370 910,760 455,610 0.3%
Urban
% 100.0 66.7 33.3 2.6%
Unemployed
No. 6,766,467 4,426,589 2,339,878 2.1%
Rural
% 100.0 65.4 34.6
No. 414,225 243,437 170,788 Male Female
Estate
% 100.0 58.8 41.2 Figure 3.2 illustrates the distribution of age 15 and
above population by gender and their economic
Distribution of economically active population by status. Considering the economic status by
gender and sectors are given by Table 3.2 and gender, majority of female population is in
Figure 3.1. According to the Table 3.2, in Urban economically inactive group (67.9%) while majority
sector 66.7 of male population is in employee group (38.7%).

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 3.3: Percentage distribution of economically Table 3.4: Labour force participation rates by age
active population by gender and district - 2022 groups, gender and sector - 2022

Economically active population Labour force participation rate


Age (%)
District (%)
group/sector
Total Male Female Total Male Female
Total 100.0 65.3 34.7 Total 49.8 70.5 32.1
Colombo 100.0 65.0 35.0 15 - 19 7.7 10.9 4.6
Gampaha 100.0 63.9 36.1 20 - 24 48.0 63.0 34.4
Kalutara 100.0 64.9 35.1 25 - 29 67.0 89.9 46.2
Kandy 100.0 61.0 39.0 30 - 39 67.1 95.9 43.3
Matale 100.0 62.2 37.8 40 + 51.0 74.1 31.7
Nuwara Eliya 100.0 58.0 42.0 Urban 47.2 68.0 29.3
Galle 100.0 62.3 37.7 15 - 19 5.4 7.2 3.4
Matara 100.0 67.1 32.9 20 - 24 40.0 51.3 30.6
Hambantota 100.0 68.7 31.3 25 - 29 67.6 88.4 46.4
Jaffna 100.0 74.5 25.5 30 - 39 68.1 95.9 44.2
Mannar 100.0 62.3 37.7
40 + 46.9 71.4 26.9
Vavuniya 100.0 69.9 30.1
Rural 49.9 70.9 32.0
Mullaitivu 100.0 71.6 28.4
15 - 19 7.7 11.0 4.5
Kilinochchi 100.0 71.4 28.6
20 - 24 49.0 64.4 34.6
Batticaloa 100.0 75.5 24.5
25 - 29 66.8 90.2 46.2
Ampara 100.0 77.3 22.7
30 - 39 66.1 95.9 41.9
Trincomalee 100.0 77.3 22.7
40 + 51.5 74.8 32.1
Kurunegala 100.0 63.8 36.2
Estate 58.6 73.3 45.6
Puttalam 100.0 68.1 31.9
15 - 19 18.3 25.3 10.9
Anuradhapura 100.0 63.3 36.7
20 - 24 64.4 88.0 47.8
Polonnaruwa 100.0 73.7 26.3
25 - 29 68.1 89.5 45.7
Badulla 100.0 62.9 37.1
30 - 39 80.2 96.2 66.1
Monaragala 100.0 69.3 30.7
40 + 57.8 72.2 45.2
Rathnapura 100.0 64.2 35.8
Labour force participation rate by standardized
Kegalle 100.0 62.3 37.7 age groups
Total Male Female

As shown in Table 3.3 percentage of economically Total (15 & over) 49.8 70.5 32.1

active female population is high in agriculture 15 - 24 25.3 33.2 17.9


predominant districts. For example, Nuwara Eliya 25 - 34 66.8 92.6 44.7
(42.0%), Badulla (37.1%) and Anuradhapura 35 - 54 68.2 95.4 45.0
(36.7%). The lowest percentage (22.7%) of 55 - 64 53.0 76.8 32.3
economically active female population is reported 65 + 21.7 36.3 10.6
from Ampara and Trincomalee districts. 15 – 64 55.4 76.8 36.6
25 – 54 67.8 94.6 44.9
3.3 Labour Force Participation Rate These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
(LFPR)

This is defined as the percentage of the currently As shown in Table 3.4 labour force participation
“economically active population” or the “labour rate (LFPR) for Sri Lanka is 49.8 percent.
force” to the total working age population. Corresponding figures for males and females are
Following Table 3.4 shows the distribution of 70.5 and 32.1 percent respectively.
labour force participation rate by age groups,
gender and by sectors.
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Comparing the LFPR among age groups it is seen Labour force participation rate by district is given
that the LFPR increases up to the age group of 30- in Table 3.5. The highest LFPR (60.2%) is reported
39 years and decreases thereafter. The highest from Mannar district. The highest female LFPR is
LFPR (67.1) is reported from the age group 30-39 reported from Nuwara Eliya district (45.8%), while
years. the lowest female LFPR is reported from Ampara
district (17.1%).
ILO recommended standardized age groups are
also shown in Table 3.4. These values provide Figure 3.3:
more information for international comparison and Labour Force participation rate by gender and
provide labour market behavior of different age level of education – 2022
categories of the population. In 2022 labour force
participation rate of the prime working age (age Degree & above 80.8 82.6
25-54 years) is 67.8 percent. This rate for males is
94.6% and for females it is 44.9%. G.C.E.(A/L) 43.1 73.2

As shown in Table 3.4 gender, age group and G.C.E.(O/L) 25.7 64.1
Sector level LFPR depict that Estate sector female
Grade 6 - 10 28.3 73.5
labour force participation rate are comparatively
higher than that of Urban and Rural sectors. The
Grade 5 and below 23.2 63.8
highest value is reported for the age group 30-39
years, which was reported as 66.1 percent, much 100 0 100
higher compared to rates in Urban (44.2%) & Rural Female Male
(41.9%).
As can be seen in Figure 3.3 clear differences can
be observed in LFPR by sex. However when the
Table 3.5: Labour force participation rates by gender
and district - 2022
level of education is considered, the difference is
minimum for the degree and above level of
Gender education.
District Total
Male Female
Total 49.8 70.5 32.1 Figure 3.4:
Colombo 50.2 70.1 32.8 Labour Force participation rate by gender and age
Gampaha 49.6 69.1 33.1 group - 2022
Kalutara 49.6 69.1 32.6
Kandy 48.4 67.9 33.3 100
L.F. participation rate (%)

Matale 53.2 73.1 36.7


Nuwara Eliya 57.7 71.2 45.8 75
Galle 50.5 67.6 35.7
Matara 45.7 65.8 28.2 50
Hambantota 49.4 71.6 29.3
Jaffna 40.8 65.8 19.3 25
Mannar 60.2 77.5 43.9
Vavuniya 46.8 74.0 25.2 0
Mullaitivu 48.1 72.5 26.0 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40+
Kilinochchi 43.5 68.3 22.8 Age (years)
Batticaloa 40.4 68.9 17.8
Total Male Female
Ampara 39.8 65.1 17.1
Trincomalee 42.1 71.1 17.6 As shown in Table 3.5, the Female LFPR is high in
Kurunegala 52.9 73.5 35.4 Agriculture predominant districts. Also it is clear
Puttalam 51.8 75.2 31.1
that male LFPR is higher than that of female in all
Anuradhapura 53.0 75.0 35.2
Polonnaruwa 45.6 73.2 22.2 districts. Some district in Northern and Eastern
Badulla 50.9 70.3 34.7 provinces show comparatively lower LFPR rates
Monaragala 54.9 77.2 33.3 due to lower female labour force participation.
Rathnapura 55.9 75.5 38.1 This distribution is clearly shown in Map-2.
Kegalle 49.7 67.5 34.6

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Map-2 Labour force participation rate by district Economically inactive rate for the country is the
– 2022
proportion of economically inactive population to
the total working age population.
Table 3.6
Table 3.6: Economically inactive population by
gender and sector - 2022

Total Male Female


Sector
No. % No. % No. %
Total 8,614,911 100.0 2,333,850 27.1 6,281,061 72.9

Urban 1,528,752 100.0 428,604 28.0 1,100,148 72.0

Rural 6,794,039 100.0 1,816,741 26.7 4,977,298 73.3

Estate 292,119 100.0 88,506 30.3 203,614 69.7

Table 3.6 & Figure 3.6 show that, the number of


inactive female is higher than that of male in
general and in all the sectors.

Figure 3.6:
Economically inactive population by gender –
2022
Figure 3.5:
Annual labour force participation rates 2016 –
2022
Male,
27.1%
80
Female,
L.F. participation rate (%)

72.9%
60

40 Male Female

20 Table 3.7: Economically inactive population by level


of education - 2022
0
Gender
2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Level of education Total


Male Female
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0
Both sexes Male Female
Grade 5 and below 17.5 17.1 17.7
Grade 6 - 10 43.1 42.1 43.5

3.4 Economically inactive population G.C.E.(O/L) 23.0 25.2 22.2


G.C.E.(A/L) & above 16.4 15.7 16.6
The persons who are not economically active
during the reference period and those who are
mainly engaged in studies, household duties, Table 3.7 shows the percentage distribution of
retired or old, disabled persons etc. are defined as economically inactive population by level of
‘Economically Inactive Population’. The survey education. The highest percentage of
results reveal that, 50.2 percent of (8.6 million) economically inactive population is reported from
working age population are in the economically the group with level of education grade 6 – 10 for
inactive group, comprising with 27.1 percent of both sexes, while the lowest reported from the
males and 72.9 percent of females. group G.C.E. (A/L) & above.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 3.8: Economically inactive population by age 3.5 Characteristics of the “economically
group and gender - 2022 inactive” population

Gender Table 3.9: Reasons for being economically inactive


Age group Total by gender - 2022
Male Female
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Gender
15 - 19 19.6 34.4 14.1 Reason Total
Male Female
20 - 24 8.6 10.7 7.7
25 - 29 4.8 2.6 5.6 All Economically inactive 100.0 100.0 100.0
30 - 34 4.9 1.1 6.3 Engaged in studies 23.8 40.8 17.4
35 - 39 5.3 1.0 7.0 Engaged in housework 44.0 4.1 58.8
40 - 44 5.6 1.1 7.3 Retired/Old age 21.5 34.1 16.9
45 - 49 5.1 1.4 6.5 Physically
8.1 15.9 5.2
50 - 54 5.6 1.7 7.0 illness/Disabled
55 - 59 6.3 4.1 7.1 other 2.6 5.2 1.7
60 - 64 8.3 8.2 8.3 The main reason reported for the majority among
65+ 25.9 33.6 23.1
female (58.8%) to be economically inactive is that
Table 3.8 shows the distribution of economically their involvement in housework activities.
inactive population by age group and gender. However, that percentage is only 4.1 percent for
This shows that economically inactive males as male. The highest reported reason for inactivity
well as females are highly concentrated in young among male, (40.8%) is “engaged in studies”.
(15 – 19 years) and older (65+ years) age groups. Figure 3.8 clearly shows this distribution.
Percentages of inactive males are lower in middle Table 3.10: Percentage distribution of inactive
age groups, from 30 – 54, however this situation is population by stated reason, age group and gender
different for female. - 2022
Age group
Reason for
Figure 3.7: inactive 25 - 35 - 55 &
15 - 24
Economically active and inactive population by 34 54 over
age group - 2022 Male
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Engaged in
87.9 31.4 0.2 ..
100 studies
Engaged in
80 4.2 14.7 11.1 2.4
housework
Percentage (%)

60 Retired/Old age .. .. 16.7 72.2


Physically
40 2.2 25.3 51.3 24.4
illness/Disabled
20 Other 5.8 28.6 20.8 1.0
Female
0 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
15 - 19
20 - 24
25 - 29
30 - 34
35 - 39
40 - 44
45 - 49
50 - 54
55 - 59
60 - 64
65 - 69
70 - 74
75 - 79
80+

Engaged in
76.8 5.5 0.1 ..
studies
Engaged in
19.0 89.7 93.0 47.1
Age group (years) housework
Economically active Economically inactive Retired/Old age .. .. 1.1 43.1
Physically
1.0 1.8 3.9 9.6
illness/Disabled
Figure 3.7 shows the distribution of the other 3.2 3.1 1.9 0.2
percentage of economically active and inactive .. Not reported.
population by age group. These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

The survey results show that the population from Reported reasons for being economically inactive
age group 25 to 59 years are more economically are different for males and females for different
active. Also the results reveal that persons even at age groups. Among both male and female
older ages (age 70 and above) some are majority of youths (15 – 24) are inactive due to
economically active. “Engage in Studies”.

Figure 3.8:
12 Reasons of being economically inactive - 2022
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

1
3.7 Potential labour force

Potential labour force is a new criterion identified


Both male & female in order to capture situations of inadequate
absorption of labour, beyond those captured by
10.7%
unemployment (ILO, 2013).
23.8%
21.5% The draft 19th ICLS resolution introduced a
definition of potential labour force. It is proposed
44.0%
that the definition cover persons who have
Male Female indicated some interest in employment,
6.9% distinguishing three mutually exclusive groups:

17.4
21.1% 16.9 %
(a) Unavailable jobseekers, referring to persons
40.8% %
without employment who are seeking
employment but are not available;
34.1%
58.8
%
(b) Available potential jobseekers, referring to
4.1%
persons without employment who are not seeking
Retired/old age - employment but are available; and

Engaged in housework -
(c) Willing potential jobseekers, comprising
Engaged in studies - persons without employment who are neither
Other - seeking nor available for employment but who
want to be employed.

However, for Sri Lanka it is not possible to provide


3.6 Economically inactive rate
information for above three groups a, b, and c
Table 3.11: Distribution of economically inactive rate separately but it is possible to estimate the
by standardized age groups - 2022
number of persons who are in the inactive group
Gender showing some interest in finding a job. This
Selected age
Total criteria considers the inactive persons who
groups
Male Female
declared that they want a job. Within the total
Total (15 & over) 50.2 29.5 67.9
potential labour force there can be persons,
15 - 24 74.7 66.8 82.1
25 - 34 33.2 7.4 55.3  Who put pressure on the labour market (by
35 - 54 31.8 4.6 55.0 actively seeking an employment) but who,
55 - 64 47.0 23.2 67.7 because they are not immediately available, are
excluded from unemployment.
65 + 78.3 63.7 89.4
 Who are not seeking an employment due to
15 – 64 44.6 23.2 63.4 indefinite lay-off or discouragement, and it also
25 – 54 32.2 5.4 55.1 comprises persons facing a variety of obstacles
to seeking employment, including personal and
The economically inactive rate for prime age family-related factors in addition to the socio-
group (25 – 54) is about 32.2 percent and it is 5.4 economic context.
percent for males and 55.1 percent for females.  Who imply that the expression of interest in the
labour market is generally in the form of an
Youth (15 – 24) economically inactive rate is 74.7 expressed desire for employment.
percent and this is 66.8 percent for males and
82.1 percent for females. Economically inactive
rates are always higher for females in all the age
groups (Table 3.11), compared to those of males. 1
ILO. (2013). Report II, ICLS Statistics of work,
employment and labour underutilization. Geneva:
international labour office.

- 13 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 3.12: Potential labour force by year and Table 3.13: Discouraged job seekers by gender -
gender, 2019 - 2022 2022

Discourage job seekers


Year Gender
Gender Percentage
Total Male Female No. Percentage
to inactive
2019
Total 89,873 100.0 1.0
Number 200,241 67,635 132,606
Rate (% to inactive Male 40,258 44.8 1.7
2.6 3.3 2.3
Pop.)
2020 Female 49,616 55.2 0.8
Number 251,688 92,578 159,110
Rate (% to inactive
3.0 4.2 2.6
Pop.) Figure 3.9:
2021 Discouraged Job seekers by gender - 2022
Number 227,858 93,147 134,710
Rate (% to inactive
2.7 4.1 2.1
Pop.)
2022
Female
Number 184,998 61,285 123,714 55.2%
Rate (% to inactive Male
2.1 2.6 2.0 44.8%
Pop.)

The Table 3.12 shows that in 2022 about 0.2


million are in potential labour force. That is 2.1
percent of inactive population, who show some
interest in getting an employment, but are not Male Female
identified as unemployed.

3.8 Discouraged job seekers


The Table 3.13 and Figure 3.9 show that the
Discouraged job seekers are the persons in the
majority among discouraged job seekers are
economically inactive group who are known to be
female when the number of persons are
as inactive because of these reasons;
considered. When the percentage to inactive
population is considered higher male percentage
 Does not believe that he/ she gets a
is reported compared to female percentage.
suitable job
 Unable to find any work
 Does not possess skills or training required
for a job
 Personal difficulties faced while finding a
job

Above reasons are considered to define


discouraged job seekers. In 2022 the estimated
number of discouraged job seekers is 89,873 and
it is about 1.0 percent of inactive population. In
number majority of discouraged job seekers are
females.

14
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER FOUR

Employment data plays an important role as a


viable social indicator of understanding the HIGHLIGHTS
economy of the country. Furthermore, statistics on
employment identify the number of people, who
are employed, the sorts of work they do, their Labour Force

qualifications towards the job and their working Sri Lanka 8,547,062
patterns. Male 5,580,786
Availability of accurate employment statistics is vital
Female 2,966,276
for the policy makers to implement job creation
policies and programmers properly.
Employed Population

Sri Lanka 8,147,731


. Employed
Male 5,373,965
During the reference period, persons, who worked as Female 2,773,766
paid employees, employers, own account workers or
contributing family workers are said to be employed.
This also includes persons with a job but not at work
Employment Rate
during the reference period.
Sri Lanka 95.3

Reference Period: Previous week of the survey week Male 96.3

Female 93.5

- 15 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

4.1 Employment by major industry group

The survey results reveal that, about 8.1 million


persons are being employed during the year 2022.
50
Out of these employed persons, about 5.4 million
(66.0%) are males and 2.8 million (34.0%) are 45

females. 40

Percentage (%)
35
Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1 show the distribution of
30
employed population from 2016 – 2022. From
2016 till 2019 the share of agriculture employment 25

shows a decrease, but from 2019 to 2021 there is 20


an increase and share of employment in 15
Agricultural sector surpasses the share of Industry

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022
sector employment. While industry sector show
slight decreases from 2017 to 2021. But, a
Agriculture Industries Services
different pattern can be observed in 2022. Figure
4.1 shows that clearly.

Table 4.1: Employed population by major industry group, 2016 - 2022

Major industry group


Total employed
Year Agriculture Industries Services
No. % No. % No. % No. %
2016 7,947,683 100.0 2,153,874 27.1 2,097,503 26.4 3,696,306 46.5
2017 8,208,179 100.0 2,140,185 26.1 2,331,494 28.4 3,736,500 45.5
2018 8,015,166 100.0 2,043,698 25.5 2,239,262 27.9 3,732,206 46.6
2019 8,180,693 100.0 2,071,940 25.3 2,258,421 27.6 3,850,332 47.1
2020 7,999,093 100.0 2,169,679 27.1 2,152,746 26.9 3,676,668 46.0
2021 8,113,507 100.0 2,213,015 27.3 2,109,482 26.0 3,791,011 46.7
2022 8,147,731 100.0 2,158,559 26.5 2,158,199 26.5 3,830,973 47.0

As shown in Figure 4.2, out of the total employed


Figure 4.2:
Employed population by major industry population, the highest share is reported from the
group – 2022 ‘Services’ sector (47.0%). The estimated share of
both ‘Agriculture’ sector and ‘Industries’ sector
employments are 26.5 percent.

Agriculture
26.5%

Services
47.0%

Industries
26.5%

Agriculture Industries Services

Figure 4.1:
Employed population by major industry group,
16
2016 – 2022
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 4.2: Percentage distribution of employed Also for the year 2022, the survey results reveal
population by major industry group for each district that ‘wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor
– 2022 vehicles, motor cycles’ and ‘transport & storage’
Major industry group and ‘public administration & defense compulsory
District Total Agriculture Industries Services social security’ and ‘Education’ are the major
(%) (%) (%) Industry categories in the Service sector.
Total 100.0 26.5 26.5 47.0
Gampaha district (36.7%) shows the highest share
Colombo 100.0 1.7 25.8 72.4
of employment in the industries sector, and
Gampaha 100.0 4.3 36.7 59.0
Puttalam district (33.2%) shows the 2nd highest
Kalutara 100.0 17.9 33.0 49.1
percentage.
Kandy 100.0 21.0 25.6 53.4
Matale 100.0 24.6 21.7 53.7
Figure 4.3:
Nuwara Eliya 100.0 58.0 14.3 27.7
Share of agriculture, industry & service sectors
Galle 100.0 29.4 26.6 44.0 to the total employment by province – 2022
Matara 100.0 34.5 20.4 45.0
Hambantota 100.0 33.5 25.1 41.4
Jaffna 100.0 21.2 26.6 52.1 36.9
Sabaragamuwa 29.1
Mannar 100.0 52.8 17.0 30.2 34.0
Vavuniya 100.0 27.7 25.0 47.3
31.2
Mullaitivu 100.0 46.2 20.6 33.2 Uva 17.4
51.4
Kilinochchi 100.0 35.6 29.4 35.0
Batticaloa 100.0 32.0 23.8 44.2 34.1
North Central 17.2
Ampara 100.0 30.7 24.7 44.6 48.7
Trincomalee 100.0 30.2 20.3 49.5
41.8
Kurunegala 100.0 27.2 31.0 41.7 North Western 31.8
26.4
Puttalam 100.0 24.8 33.2 41.9
Anuradhapura 100.0 51.9 16.5 31.6 45.7
Eastern 23.3
Polonnaruwa 100.0 41.3 18.7 40.0 31.0
Badulla 100.0 51.3 16.8 31.9
44.8
Monaragala 100.0 51.4 18.5 30.1 Northern 24.8
30.3
Rathnapura 100.0 41.3 28.2 30.5
Kegalle 100.0 23.1 30.5 46.3 43.7
Southern 24.3
32.0

45.3
Table 4.2 shows the percentage distribution of Central 21.3
employed population by major industry groups 33.5

for each district. The data shows some significant 62.3


Western 31.6
variations in the share of agriculture employment
6.1
among districts. It distributes from 1.9 percent in
Colombo district to 58.0 percent in Nuwara Eliya 0 15 30 45 60 75
Percentage (%)
district. Further Mannar (52.8%), Anuradhapura
(51.9%), Monaragala (51.4%) and Badulla (51.3%) Services Industries Agriculture

districts are highly concentrated with agricultural


employment. Colombo district shows the highest
Figure 4.3 illustrates the distribution of employed
employment contribution to the ‘Services’ sector
population by Province level and by major
(72.4%), followed by Gampaha (59.0%) district.
industry sectors; agriculture, industry & service.

- 17 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

4.2 Employment by status of employment Figure 4.4:


Employment status by gender - 2022
Table 4.3: Percentage distribution of employed
population by employment status for each district -
2022
Total 66.0% 34.0%
Self employed
Own Contri Employee 64.8% 35.2%
District Employee account buting
Employer
worker family Employer 87.9% 12.1%
(O.A.W.) worker
Total 58.0 2.9 33.1 5.9 Own account worker 74.0% 26.0%
Colombo 65.4 6.1 25.4 3.1
Contributing family
Gampaha 64.7 3.9 28.5 2.9 21.9% 78.1%
worker
Kalutara 67.1 2.2 26.7 4.1 Male Female
Kandy 60.5 3.3 30.3 5.9
Matale 50.6 1.2 37.3 11.0 When a household member is engaging in a
Nuwara Eliya 65.0 1.5 26.1 7.3
family business or farming and the other
Galle 63.6 3.0 27.9 5.4
members who engage in this activity without any
Matara 55.2 2.8 37.1 4.9
payment are identified as contributing family
Hambantota 54.5 1.9 39.9 3.7
workers. Figure 4.4 clearly shows that this is more
Jaffna 68.7 2.5 27.7 1.1
common among female. About 74.0% of
Mannar 43.3 0.3 52.3 4.2
contributing family workers are female.
Vavunia 63.6 4.0 27.1 5.3
Mullativu 49.6 4.0 42.1 4.3 Table 4.4: Employed population by employment
Kilinochchi 65.4 1.8 32.8 0.0 status and by gender - 2022
Batticaloa 62.5 2.4 32.6 2.5
Gender
Ampara 63.6 2.3 30.4 3.7 Total
Employment
Trincomalee 60.9 0.9 33.9 4.4 Male Female
status
Kurunegala 49.3 2.8 39.6 8.3 No % No % No %
Puttalam 54.7 4.0 34.2 7.0 Total 8,147,731 100.0 5,373,965 100.0 2,773,766 100.0
Anuradhapura 38.0 1.7 47.3 13.0 Employee 4,728,424 58.0 3,063,304 57.0 1,665,121 60.0
Polonnaruwa 47.3 1.5 44.4 6.9 Public 1,231,788 15.1 641,274 11.9 590,514 21.3
Badulla 47.2 0.6 39.7 12.5
Private 3,496,636 42.9 2,422,030 45.1 1,074,607 38.7
Monaragala 41.5 0.8 46.7 11.0
Employer 236,581 2.9 207,874 3.9 28,707 1.0
Rathnapura 53.3 2.8 36.6 7.2
Own account
Kegalle 61.0 1.6 31.8 5.7 2,700,650 33.1 1,997,360 37.2 703,290 25.4
worker
These figures are to be treated with caution as Contributing
482,075 5.9 105,426 2.0 376,648 13.6
the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values family worker
are high.

Table 4.3 shows the percentage distribution of Figure 4.5:


Employed population by employment status -
employed population by employment status at
2022
the district level.
The employed population by status of
5.9% Public Employee
employment has two vital categories; waged and 15.1%

salaried workers (employees) and the self- Private Employee


employed. Self-employed can be further 33.1% Employer
categorized in to three groups employers, own
account workers and contributing family workers. Own account
worker
Status of employment describes the working 42.9% Contributing family
behavior and conditions of work. Such as high 2.9% worker
proportion of self-employed is an indication of
large agriculture sector, while high proportion of
employees is an indication of economic
development.

18
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

The estimated total public sector employment for According to the Figure 4.7, the level of
Sri Lanka in 2022 is about 1.2 million (Table 4.4). education among employed has been increasing
Among the employed female, the percentage of over the previous years. However, still
paid employees, those who are engaged in the considerable part of employment population has
public sector is 21.3 percent, and among grade 5 or below level of education.
employed male this is 11.9 percent. The share of
contributing family workers to the total 4.4 Employment by occupation
employment is 5.9 percent, and it is 13.6 percent
Table 4.5: Employed population by occupation &
for females, which is much higher compared to gender - 2022
that of males (2.0%).
Gender %
Contribution
Figure 4.6: Occupation Total of females to
Employed population by major industry group Male Female the total
and employment status - 2022 employment
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 34.0

100% Managers, Senior


Officials and 4.2 4.9 2.7 22.3
80% Legislators
Percentage (%)

60% Professionals 7.3 4.0 13.7 63.8


Technical &
40%
Associate 8.4 8.1 9.1 36.5
20% Professionals
Clerks and Clerical
0% 3.6 2.6 5.6 52.1
support workers
Agriculture Industries Services
Services and Sales
11.1 11.3 10.6 32.7
Major Industry Group workers
Employee Employer Skilled Agricultural,
Forestry and 16.1 17.8 12.8 27.0
Own account worker Contributing family worker
Fishery workers
Craft and Related
The Figure 4.6 shows the percentage distribution 14.4 15.5 12.2 28.8
Trades workers
of employment by Industry groups & by
Plant and Machine
employment status. Agriculture sector is different Operators and 9.7 11.6 5.9 20.9
from other two sectors, where higher percentages Assemblers
of own account workers and contributing family Elementary
24.6 23.3 27.2 37.6
occupations
workers can be observed compared to Industry &
Armed Forces
Service sectors. occupations &
0.6 0.8 0.2 10.0
Unidentified
4.3 Employment by level of education occupations
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Figure 4.7:
Employed population by level of education,
Survey covers only the household population,
2016 – 2022
hence the occupations of the institutional
50%
population specially Armed Forces do not
represent fully in these categories.
40%
Percentage (%)

30% Table 4.5 shows the proportion of men and


women employed in different occupational
20%
categories. Table 4.5 also shows the contribution
10% of females to the total employment within each
0% occupational group. Overall female contribution
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 is 34.0 percent. Among the professional’s female
Grade 5 & Below Grade 6-10 contribution is about 63.8 percent. This group
G.C.E. (O/L) G.C.E. (A/L) & above generally consist of teachers, nurses, doctors, etc.

- 19 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

4.5 Average gross wage/salary & income


Table 4.8: Mean & median monthly income by sector
The Labour force survey collects information on (for own account workers and employers) – 2022
salaries or wages from monthly or daily
wage/salary earners (paid employees) and also the Monthly income (Rs.)
information on gross monthly income of Measurement
employers and own account workers. Urban Rural Estate
All
Table 4.6: Mean & median monthly gross salary by Mean 59,508 37,171 29,168
gender - 2022
Median 40,000 25,000 20,000
Monthly Daily
Employer
earners
Measure earners (wage/salary) Mean 145,208 130,307 ..
(wage/salary)
ment
(Rs.) (Rs.) Median 95,000 60,000 ..
Total Male Female Total Male Female Own Account Worker

Mean 48,546 52,394 43,556 27,284 30,010 17,486 Mean 42,269 30,453 24,960
Median 32,000 22,300 20,000
Median 40,000 42,200 38,000 24,000 28,500 16,500
.. Cell count is not enough to provide reliable estimates.

The estimated mean and median values for


The Table 4.6 shows the estimated mean and monthly wages/salaries and self-reported
median monthly gross wage/salary separately for individual income for employers and own account
monthly wage/salary earners and daily workers by sector are depicted in Table 4.7, Table
wage/salary earners. It can be seen that female 4.7-1, Table 4.8 & Table 4.8-1.
values are comparatively lower than those of
male. Table 4.8.1: Mean & median monthly income by
sector (own account worker & employers), 2020 -
2022
Table 4.7: Mean & median monthly gross salary by
sector - 2022
Monthly Income(Rs.)
Year Measurement
Urban Rural Estate
Monthly Daily
earners (wage/salary) earners (wage/salary) Mean 66,391 28,987 22,469
Measure (Rs.) (Rs.) 2020
ment Median 35,000 20,000 20,000
Total Urban Rural Total Urban Rural
Mean 55,206 31,814 24,035
2021
Mean 48,546 63,867 44,572 27,284 29,545 26,990 Median 35,000 20,000 20,000
Mean 59,508 37,171 29,168
Median 40,000 45,000 40,000 24,000 27,000 24,000 2022
Median 40,000 25,000 20,000

Table 4.7.1: Mean & median monthly gross salary by


Estimated results further reveal existing wage gaps
sector - 2021 between sectors and between employment status.

Table 4.9: Mean & median monthly gross salary by


Monthly Daily
earners (wage/salary) earners (wage/salary) major industry group - 2022
(Rs.) (Rs.)
Measure
ment Measurement Agriculture Industry Service
Rural Rural
Urban Urban Monthly wage/salary earners (Rs.)
Rural Rural
Estate Estate
only only Mean 28,611 42,650 52,177
Mean 63,867 45,440 27,664 29,545 27,357 24,676 Median 24,750 35,000 45,000

Median 45,000 40,000 25,000 27,000 25,000 21,660 Daily wage/salary earners (Rs.)
Mean 23,081 30,090 28,661
The above are the residential sectors and the Median 20,840 30,000 25,000
majority of Estate sector employment may work
within the sector compared to other two sectors.

20
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

The Table 4.9 shows mean and median Distribution of the mean values of the gross salary
wages/salaries estimated for major industry of the monthly earners by district reveals some
groups separately for monthly wage/salary interesting features (Figure 4.9). When the
earners and daily wage/salary earners. monthly paid employees are considered,
Colombo district shows the highest mean monthly
Figure 4.8:
salary followed by Gampaha district and third is
Average gross wage / salary by major industry
group - 2022 Kandy district.

54
48
Salary / Wages ('000 Rs)

42
36
30
24
18
12
6
-
Agriculture Industry Services
Major Industry sector
Monthly Earners Daily earners

As given in figure 4.8 average wage/salary


distribution of monthly earners and the daily
earners by major industry groups, the average
monthly salary of the monthly earners in services
sector, is much higher than the other two sectors,
however this difference cannot be observed when
the daily earners are considered.

Figure 4.9:
Mean & median monthly salary of paid employees - district level – 2022

70
65
60
55
Monthly Salary ('000 Rs)

50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
-
Kalutara

Nuwara Eliya
Colombo

Vavunia
Anuradhapura

Trincomalee

Mannar

Matale

Badulla

Kilinochcchi
Hambantota
Gampaha

Jaffna

Puttalam
Ampara

Kurunegala

Moneragala

Polonnaruwa

Matara

Batticaloa

Ratnapura

Mullativu
Kandy

Galle

Kegalle

Mean Median

- 21 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

4.6 Employment to Population Ratio Overall employment to population ratio for Sri
Lanka is 47.5 percent and it is 65.4 percent for the
The employment-to-population ratio is defined as prime age (25 – 54 years) group. Youth (15 – 24
the proportion employed to the country’s years) employment to population ratio is about
working-age population. It provides the 19.6 percent.
information on the ability of an economy to create
employment. On the other hand employment-to- The survey results further shows that one out of
population ratio helps to comprehend and every two persons in working age population is
compare labour markets in different countries. contributing to the production of goods and
services and when male & female are considered
separately male rates are two times higher than
Table 4.10: Employment to population ratio by female.
sector and gender - 2022

Table 4.12: Employment to population ratio, 2016 -


Gender
2022
Sector
Total Male Female
Employment to population ratio
Total 47.5 67.9 30.0 Year
Total Male Female
Urban 44.8 65.3 27.2
2016 51.4 72.9 33.4
Rural 47.6 68.4 29.9
2017 51.8 72.4 34.3
Estate 55.8 69.8 43.4
2018 49.5 70.8 31.2
Table 4.10 reveals that the employment-to-
2019 49.8 70.5 31.9
population ratio for the country is 47.5 percent in
2022. This value in the Estate sector is higher 2020 47.8 69.0 29.3
compared to the values of other two sectors. Also 2021 47.4 68.4 29.3
the Estate sector shows the highest ratio for
2022 47.5 67.9 30.0
female while the lowest is reported from Urban
sector.

Table 4.11: Employment to population ratio by


standardized age group & gender - 2022

Gender
Age group
Total Male Female

15 and over 47.5 67.9 30.0

Youth (15 – 24) 19.6 26.5 13.1

Adult (25 & over) 54.0 78.2 33.7

Prime age(25 – 54) 65.4 92.3 42.5

22
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER FIVE

The unemployment rate is one of the most widely


cited and closely monitored economic indicators.
HIGHLIGHTS
Unemployment is a key measure of economic health.
It is a major factor in determining how healthy an
economy is; if the economy maximized efficiency, Labour Force
everyone would be employed at some wage. An Sri Lanka 8,547,062
individual unemployed is both unproductive and a
Male 5,580,786
drain on society’s resources. Unemployment is a
Female 2,966,276
powerful statistic that shapes government policies
and personal decisions2. Generally, lower
unemployment rates share a good economic health Unemployed Population
of a country. Sri Lanka 399,332
However, the unemployment rates of many
Male 206,822
developing countries are lower than those of
Female 192,510
industrialized countries. Hence, some studies explain
the unemployment measure as only one aspect of the
employment problem of a given country that of total Unemployment Rate
lack of work3. Sri Lanka 4.7

Male 3.7
Unemployed
Female 6.5
Persons available and/or looking for work, and who
did not work and taken steps to find a job during last
four weeks and ready to accept a job given a work
opportunity within next two weeks are defined as
unemployed.

2
Classical and Keynesian economic explanations for unemployment, Michael Griffiths (2007)
3
www.ilo,org/public/english/region/afpro/mdttharare/downlord
- 23 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

5.1 Unemployment rate by sector and


gender Gender
Year Total
Male Female
The number of unemployed persons is estimated
2015 4.7 3.0 7.6
as 399,332 during the year 2022. Out of this total,
2016 4.4 2.9 7.0
51.8 percent are males and 48.2 percent are
2017 4.2 2.9 6.5
females.
2018 4.4 3.0 7.1
Table 5.1: Unemployed number and unemployment 2019 4.8 3.3 7.4
rate by gender and sector - 2022 2020 5.5 4.0 8.5
2021 5.1 3.7 7.9
Sector
Gender Unemployed Total 2022 4.7 3.7 6.5
Urban Rural Estate
Number 399,332 68,232 311,206 19,894
Total All over the period for 2015 to 2022 female
Rate 4.7 5.0 4.6 4.8
unemployment remains higher than that of males.
Number 206,822 36,362 158,731 11,729
Male
Rate 3.7 4.0 3.6 4.8 Table 5.3: Unemployment rate by district - 2022
Number 192,510 31,870 152,475 8,165
Female Un-emp rate Un-emp rate
Rate 6.5 7.0 6.5 4.8 District District
(%) (%)
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
Total 4.7 Mullaitivu 2.3
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Colombo 5.1 Kilinochchi 4.4
Gampaha 4.5 Batticaloa 4.2
Figure 5.1:
Kalutara 5.4 Ampara 4.3
Unemployment rate by gender & sector -
2022 Kandy 6.7 Trincomalee 2.7
Matale 5.6 Kurunegala 3.9

9 Nuwara Eliya 4.3 Puttalam 3.5


8 Galle 5.7 Anuradhapura 4.1
Unemployment rate (%)

7.0
7 6.4 6.5
Matara 5.2 Polonnaruwa 2.9
6 5.0 4.6 4.7
5 Hambantota 6.9 Badulla 4.6
4.0 3.7
3.7
4 Jaffna 5.7 Monaragala 3.9
3
Mannar 2.7 Rathnapura 3.5
2
Vavuniya 2.1 Kegalle 4.1
1
0
Urban Rural Total These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Sector
Male Female Total
When consider the district level distribution the
highest unemployment rate is recorded from
According to the Table 5.1 and Figure 5.1, Hambantota district (6.9%), followed by Kandy
unemployment rate reported for the year 2022 is district (6.7%).
4.7 at national level and, the rates for the Urban,
Rural and Estate sectors are 5.0, 4.6 and 4.8
percent respectively. It could also be seen that, at
the national level, the unemployment rate for
females (6.5%) is much higher than that of the
male unemployment rate (3.7%).

Table 5.4: Unemployment rate by age group and


gender - 2022
Table 5.2: Unemployment rates, 2015 - 2022
24
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Age group Gender and above which is reported as 7.8 percent. It is


Total
(Years) Male Female 5.5 percent and 10.1 percent for male and female
Total 4.7 3.7 6.5 respectively. As reported in previous years of
survey the problem of unemployment is more
15 - 24 22.7 20.4 26.7
acute in the case of educated females than
25 - 29 11.7 8.2 17.7
educated males.
30 - 39 3.1 2.2 4.9
Over 40 1.2 0.9 1.6
Table 5.5a: Unemployment of the Graduates – 2022
(Age 20 & above)

Figure 5.2:
Type of the degree Total Percentage
Unemployment rate by age group and gender
- 2022
Total no. of unemployed
35,077 100.0
graduates
Art degree 13,349 38.1
30
21,728 61.9
Unemployment Rate (%)

Other degrees
25

20
In 2022, the estimated unemployment among the
15 persons aged 20 years and above and who are
10 graduates is given in the Table 5.5a. Among the
5 unemployed graduates, about 38.1 percent are
0
Art degree holders while the other 61.9 percent
Total Over 40 30 - 39 25 - 29 15 - 24 consist with other degree holders.
Age Group (Years)

Total Male Female 5.2 Annual unemployment rates


The Table 5.4 and Figure 5.2 depict that for all
Figure 5.3:
age groups, female unemployment rates are
Unemployment rate by gender, 2015 – 2022
higher than those of male. Overall youth (age 15-
24) unemployment rate is 22.7 percent. For both
male and female youth reported the highest 9
unemployment rate. The majority among 8
Unemployment Rate (%)

unemployed are the new entrants to job market or 7


6
new job seekers, who are in age group 15 – 24
5
years. The unemployment rate declines with the 4
age. However it should be considered that among 3
the youth (15 -24) only a 25.3 percent enter to the 2
labour force. Among them about 22.7 percent is 1
0
unemployed.
2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Table 5.5: Unemployment rate by level of education Year


- 2022
Total Male Female
Gender
Level of Education Total
Male Female Unemployment rates from 2015 show that the rate
Total 4.7 3.7 6.5 is stagnant between 4 to 6 percent. However, it is
Grade 5 & Below 0.7 0.7 0.8 very important to notice that, the changes are not
Grade 6-10 3.4 3.0 4.2 statistically significant between some consecutive
G.C.E. (O/L) 6.1 5.5 7.5 years, when sampling error4 is considered.
G.C.E. (A/L) & above 7.8 5.5 10.1 Figure 5.4:
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
Unemployment rates, 2015 - 2022
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
As given in Table 5.5, the highest unemployment
4
rate is reported from educated group G.C.E.(A/L) Please see the explanatory notes as in the appendix
for more detail.
- 25 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022 Figure 5.6:
Share of contributing family workers to the
employment for each province - 2022
6
Unemployment rate (%)

5
4.7 4.8 5.5 5.1
4 4.7
4.4 4.4
4.2
3

1 Sri Lanka 5.9

0 Uva 11.9
2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022
North Central 11.1
Year
North Western 7.9

5.3 Unemployment rate by province Central 7.3

The following figure shows the unemployment Sabaragamuwa 6.6

situation in year 2022 by provinces. The highest Southern 4.8


unemployment rate is reported from the Southern
Eastern 3.5
province (5.8%) followed by Central province
(5.7%). The lowest unemployment rate is reported Western 3.2
from the North Central province and North
Northern 2.4
Western province (3.7%).

Figure 5.5: Percentage (%)

Unemployment rate by province - 2022

Considering the Figure 5.5, Figure 5.6 and Table


Margin of the National Unemployment Rate
5.6 North Central and Uva provinces which are
Sri Lanka 4.7 predominantly agricultural farming area show
lower unemployment rate and high contribution of
Southern 5.8 own account workers and contributing family
workers. In contrast, Eastern, Western and
Central 5.7 Northern provinces show lower percentages of
contributing family workers.
Western 4.9

Uva 4.4

Northern 4.3

Eastern 3.9

Sabaragamuwa 3.8

North Western 3.7

North Central 3.7

Unemployment rate (%)

Table 5.6: Unemployment rate and percentage distribution of employment status for each province - 2022

26
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Employment status
Province Unemployment Own
Paid Contributing
rate Total Employer Account
employee Family Worker
Worker
Total 4.7 100.0 58.0 2.9 33.1 5.9
Western 4.9 100.0 65.5 4.4 26.9 3.2
Central 5.7 100.0 60.1 2.3 30.3 7.3
Southern 5.8 100.0 58.8 2.7 33.7 4.8
Northern 4.3 100.0 62.4 2.5 32.7 2.4
Eastern 3.9 100.0 62.6 2.0 32.0 3.5
North Western 3.7 100.0 51.1 3.2 37.9 7.9
North Central 3.7 100.0 40.8 1.6 46.4 11.1
Uva 4.4 100.0 45.1 0.7 42.3 11.9
Sabaragamuwa 3.8 100.0 56.4 2.3 34.7 6.6
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

The Unemployment rate and participation in Agricultural activities may have some relationship, since
when there are Agricultural activities, persons join the labour force as contributing family workers
specially the females.

5.4 Youth unemployment in Sri Lanka Youth unemployment rate by some demographic
characteristics such as province, gender, level of
Generally developing countries face major education are discussed below.
challenges regarding the quality of available work
for youths (age between 15 – 24 years). Table 5.7: Youth unemployment rate by Province,
2018 - 2022
Youth unemployment is the percentage of the
unemployed population in the age group 15 – 24 Year
Province
years to the currently “economically active 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
population” or “labour force” in the age group of Total 21.4 21.5 26.5 26.5 22.7
15 – 24 years. The youth unemployment rate is Western 12.9 15.0 23.5 21.7 20.3
22.7 percent in 2022. Central 31.3 28.2 36.4 30.4 31.4
Southern 29.3 31.5 35.8 33.4 27.8
Northern 19.8 17.4 20.6 16.9 15.5
Figure 5.7: Eastern 22.6 21.3 19.1 21.8 13.9
Youth unemployment rate, 2018 - 2022 North Western 19.7 19.9 18.7 21.5 19.4
North Central 24.5 19.4 23.6 27.8 24.5
Uva 28.0 23.8 32.6 38.3 24.3
28
26.5 Sabaragamuwa 21.1 25.2 30.8 35.7 26.3
Youth unemployment rate

26.5
26
Table 5.7 shows that the Central province is
24
22.7 having the highest youth unemployment rate in
22 year 2022. It is about 31.4 percent and followed
21.4 21.5 by Southern province (27.8%) in 2022.
20

18

16
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Year

- 27 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Figure 5.8: Eighth edition Geneva, International Labour


Youth unemployment rate by gender, 2018 - 2022 Office, 2014).

Table 5.9: Ratio of the youth unemployment rate to


40 36.2 the adult unemployment rate by gender, 2018 –
Youth unemployment rate

35.1
35 2022
30.0 28.7
30 26.7
22.1 Year
25 21.3 Gender
20.4
17.6 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
20 16.8
Total 9.1 7.9 9.1 9.6 8.3
15
Male 12.9 11.0 12.2 12.3 10.4
10
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Female 7.0 5.9 6.9 7.6 6.3

Year
Table 5.9 shows that ratio of the youth
Male Female
unemployment rate to the adult unemployment
from 2018 to 2022. This ratio is always lower for
Figure 5.8 depicts that female youth females than males. The ratio is always above one,
unemployment rate is always higher than males.
hence this shows that youth unemployment is
significantly higher than adult unemployment.
Table 5.8: Youth unemployment rate by level of
education, 2018 - 2022
5.6 Youth unemployment as a proportion
Level of Year of total unemployment
Education 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 If, in addition to a high youth unemployment rate,
Total 21.4 21.5 26.5 26.5 22.7 the proportion of youth unemployment in total
Grade 5 &
8.8 12.8 16.7 10.4 16.6 unemployment is high, this would also indicate an
Below
Grade 6-10
unequal distribution of the problem of
16.3 15.7 20.7 17.8 17.5
G.C.E. (O/L) 20.2 22.5 25.9 26.9 24.6 unemployment. In this case, employment policies
G.C.E. (A/L) might usefully be directed towards easing the
32.6 30.7 36.6 39.3 28.6
& above entry of young people into the world of work. (ILO
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding
Key Indicators of the Labour Market, Eighth
CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
edition Geneva, International Labour Office, 2014)
Youth unemployment rate is higher among the
Figure 5.9:
educated group with G.C.E.(A/L) & above.
Youth unemployment as a proportion of total
unemployment by province - 2022
The new youth cohorts who are entering to labour
force after completing their higher education
show higher unemployment rates. Sri Lanka 46.8

North Central 64.8


5.5 Ratio of the youth unemployment rate
to the adult unemployment rate Sabaragamu… 59.3
The former complements the ratio of youth-to- Uva 51.1
adult unemployment rate is reflecting to what
North Western 51.1
degree the unemployment problem is a youth-
specific problem as opposed to a general Central 49.0
problem. In a country where the youth Northern 44.9
unemployment rate is high and the ratio of the
Southern 41.8
youth unemployment rate to the adult
Western 41.3
unemployment rate is close to one, it may be
concluded that the problem of unemployment is Eastern 37.8
not specific to youth, but is country-wide. 0 20 40 60 80
However, unemployment rates of youth are
Proportion (%)
typically higher than those of adults, reflected by
youth-to-adult unemployment rates that exceed Figure 5.9 shows Youth unemployment as a
one. (ILO Key Indicators of the Labour Market, proportion of total unemployment by Province

28
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

and for the country. This rate for Sri Lanka is 46.8 Gender
Level of Education Total
percent, which shows that half of unemployment Male Female
population of the country is youth. Also these Total 5.8 6.8 4.8
reveal that North Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Grade 5 & Below 4.9 7.6 ..
North Western and Central provinces have higher Grade 6-10 4.2 6.1 2.1
proportion than the national proportion. Which are G.C.E. (O/L) 4.8 6.7 3.0
64.8, 59.3, 51.1, 51.1 and 49.0 percent G.C.E. (A/L) & above 10.5 8.9 11.5
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
respectively.
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
.. Youth unemployment not reported.
Table 5.10: Youth unemployment as a proportion of
total unemployment by gender and level of Table 5.11 depicts that youth unemployment to
education - 2022
the total youth population for Sri Lanka and it is
Proportion of Youth 5.8 for the year 2022. This proportion is 6.8 and
Measurement
unemployment 4.8 for males and females respectively. The most
Gender considerable thing is that the highest proportion
Male 51.8 of youth unemployment to youth population, 10.5
Female 41.4 percent is shown among educated youth group
Level of Education
(G.C.E. (A/L) & above group) and it is 8.9 percent
Grade 5 & Below 30.4
and 11.5 percent for male and female respectively.
Grade 6-10 47.4
G.C.E. (O/L) 55.1 5.8 The youth not in employment,
G.C.E. (A/L) & above 42.4 education or training (NEET) group
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
The NEET rate is useful as it;
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
high.
• Considers all young people who are not
employed and inactive in the age group (15 – 24
According to 2022 findings, males shows a higher years)
proportion of youth unemployment as a • Gives an indication of youth potential and
proportion to the total unemployment compared potential youth labour-market problems in relation
to that of female. to the whole youth population
• Helps in the wider understanding of the youth
Further the highest proportion of youth
labour market (in combination with the youth
unemployment is reported from G.C.E. (O/L)
unemployment rate, employment rate, and labour
group in level of education and it is 55.1 percent.
force participation rate).
Also Grade 6-10 and G.C.E. (A/L) & above groups
(Statistics New Zealand (2011). Introducing the
shows 47.4 percent and 42.4 percent
youth not in employment, education, or training
respectively.
indicator. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand)
5.7 Youth unemployment as a proportion Although NEET data has its benefits, it should still
of total youth population be treated carefully. NEET rates capture the non-
The proportion of youth unemployed in the youth utilised labour potential of the population and can
population places the youth unemployment also be used to identify individuals who may be at
challenge into perspective by showing what share risk of future difficulties. However, it does not
of the youth population, unemployment actually measure the characteristics behind the NEET
touches. Youth who are looking for work might group, such as diverse experiences, problems and
have great difficulty finding it but when this group difficulties, needs, or distinct choices made. NEET
only represents less than 5 percent of the total statistics simply measure what people are not
youth population then policy-makers may choose doing, not what they are doing. A measure of
to address it with less urgency. (ILO Key NEET provides another piece of the youth labour-
Indicators of the Labour Market, Eighth edition market picture.
Geneva, International Labour Office, 2014).
Table 5.11: Youth unemployment as a proportion of
total youth population by gender and level of
education - 2022

- 29 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

The youth NEET rate is calculated as follows. Total youth population is about 3.2 million. The
Figure 5.10 shows the distribution of total youth
(Number of unemployed youth + number of youth
(15 – 24) population by different economic
not in the labour force – Number of unemployed
conditions in 2022.
youth and youth not in the labour force who are in
education or training) / (Total number of
youth)*100 Figure 5.10:
Distribution of youth population by different
Table 5.12: Youth not in employment, education or economic conditions - 2022
training (NEET) by gender, 2018 - 2022

Year
Gender
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Youths in age 15-24
Total 668,331 647,863 685,424 625,985 585,661
Employed
Male 216,246 202,043 240,425 227,606 213,432 youth,
Female 452,085 445,820 444,998 398,379 372,229 635,568 ,
19.6%

Table 5.12 depicts that female youth not in Unemploye


d NEET,
employment, education or training is higher than 166,550 ,
male youth in all years 2018 to 2022. Total NEET 5.1%
group is fluctuating over the period 2018 to 2022. Inactive
Non-NEET, Unemploye
2,002,981 , d Non-
Table 5.13: NEET rate (NEET group as a percentage 61.7% NEET,
20,285 ,
to total youth) by gender 2018 - 2022 Inactive 0.6%
12 NEET,
419,111 ,
Year 12.9%
Gender
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 21.8 21.2 21.5 19.4 18.1 Employed youth Unemployed NEET
Male 14.4 13.3 15.3 14.4 13.5
Unemployed Non-NEET Inactive NEET
Female 29.0 29.0 27.5 24.2 22.3
Inactive Non-NEET
Table 5.13 shows that approximately one out of
every five youths belong to the NEET group in
2022. This rate is close to one out of four for
female youth in 2022. NEET rate is significantly
higher for female compared to male.

Table 5.14: NEET rate (NEET group as a percentage


to total youth) by level of education and gender –
2022

Gender
Level of Education Total
Male Female
Total 18.1 13.5 22.3
Grade 5 & Below 66.4 63.3 72.1
Grade 6-10 17.9 12.5 24.0
G.C.E. (O/L) 15.4 11.7 18.9
G.C.E. (A/L) & above 19.5 14.8 22.4

According to the Table 5.14, female NEET rate is


higher than that of male for all education groups.
Less educated youth are having the highest NEET
rate. Among them female youth with Grade 5 and
below level of education are having the highest
NEET rate, 72.1 percent. The lowest NEET rate is
reported for the group with G.C.E. (O/L) level of
education and it is true for both male and female.
30
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Map (3): Unemployment rate by district – Map (4): Percentage distribution of


2022 employed population in agriculture sector
by districts – 2022

Map (5): Percentage distribution of employed Map (6): Percentage distribution of employed
population in industry sector by districts – population in service sector by districts –
2022 2022

- 31 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER SIX

The importance of the concept of Under-employment has


long been recognized. At the international level, the concept
HIGHLIGHTS
was accepted at the Sixth International Conference of Labour
Statisticians ICLS (1948). According to the 1966 ICLS
resolution, “underemployment” exists when a person’s Underemployment
employment is inadequate, in relation to specified norms or Rate (%)
alternative employment, account being taken of his Sri Lanka 2.7
occupational skill (training and working experience).

Under-employment can be distinguished in to two principal


By Gender
forms known as visible and invisible.
Male 2.3

Visible under-employment Female 3.4

This reflects an insufficiency in the volume of employment.


Also this is called time-related underemployment. By Economic Sector

Invisible under-employment Agriculture 4.1

Characterized by low income, underutilization of skill, low Industry 2.8

productivity and other factors Services 1.8

The 1982 ICLS resolution recognized, however, that “for operational


reasons the statistical measurement of underemployment may be
limited to visible underemployment”. It refined the definition and
introduced an approach to combine the measurement of visible
underemployment with that of unemployment. Underemployment
has particular relevance in developing countries, notably in
connection with agriculture. It has been observed that measurement
of underemployment has mostly been recommended for describing
the employment situation in developing countries. Further time-
related underemployment reflects the underutilization of the
productive capacity of the labour force of the country.
6.1 Criteria for classification of In order to classify an employed persons as visibly
underemployment underemployed or time-related underemployed.

32
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

 If the person has worked less than the 6.2 Distribution of underemployment
normal duration in his/her main activity and rate
engaged in a secondary activity
Table 6.1: Underemployment rate by major industry
Until 2012, only the time spent on main activity group - 2022
was considered to decide cutoff time limit.
However, from 2013 onward this has been Underemployment
Major industry group
changed and time spent on both main and rate (%)
secondary activities were considered to decide Total 2.7
cutoff time limit. Agriculture 4.1
Industry 2.8
In Sri Lanka scenario, 35 hours per week is taken
Services 1.8
as the cut-off point applicable to all workers,
except government teachers, as in practice,
though teachers do have a normal duration of Figure 6.1:
work which is below the general cut-off point, they Underemployment rate by major industry group
should be on a fulltime schedule according to the - 2022
nature of their job.

Therefore, if the person has worked less than the Underemployment


cut-off duration in his/her main & secondary
activities (as described above), then the person is
Rate (%)

further questioned to ascertain whether he/she is 4.1


2.7 2.8
prepared and available for further work if 1.8
provided. Such available persons are considered
as visibly under employed. Total Agriculture Industry Services

 If the person has worked more than the Economic sector


normal duration in his/her main &
secondary activities
As given in Figure 6.1 underemployment rates by
economic sector reveals a considerable difference
If the person has worked even more than 35 hours among sectors. Agriculture sector reports the
usually, but he has worked less than 35 hours highest rate (4.1%) and service sector reports the
actually in the reference period, only due to the lowest rate (1.8%). The results reveal that when
off season or bad weather, such persons were also the total population is considered 2.7 percent of
further questioned to check their employed population is under-utilized with
underemployment situation, considering them as
respect to time and this is more prevalent in
a special category. Agriculture sector.
Applying above mentioned criteria, an attempt Table 6.2: Underemployment rate by gender 2018 -
has been made to estimate visible under- 2022
employment and also the “underemployment
Gender
rate” which is defined as the number of Year Total
Male Female
underemployed persons as a percentage of
2018 2.6 2.2 3.5
employed persons is calculated.
2019 2.7 2.3 3.5
2020 2.6 2.3 3.3
2021 2.5 2.1 3.3
2022 2.7 2.3 3.4

Table 6.2 shows that the female


underemployment is higher than that of male, for
all these periods from 2018 to 2022.

- 33 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 6.3: Underemployment rate by level of Figure 6.2. The highest underemployment rate
education and gender - 2022 and highest unemployment rate is reported from
Southern province.
Gender
Level of Education Total
Male Female The Table 6.4 shows the distribution of
Total 2.7 2.3 3.4 underemployment rate, unemployment rate and
percentage of informal sector employment. When
Grade 5 and below 3.0 2.5 4.2
regional labour market policies are defined these
Grade 6 - 10 2.9 2.4 4.2 related conditions should be considered.
G.C.E.(O/L) 3.0 2.3 4.4
The statistics shows that in some districts where
G.C.E.(A/L) & above 1.8 1.8 1.8
informal sector employment is high the
underemployment rate is also high.
As given in the Table 6.3, the highest
underemployment rate reported from the group Table 6.4: Underemployment rate/ Unemployment
with level of education grade 5 and below, rate / Percentage of informal sector employment by
G.C.E.(O/L). The highest underemployment district - 2022
among male and female are reported from grade
5 and below and G.C.E.(O/L) respectively.
Percentage
Underemp Unempl
of Informal
District loyment oyment
6.3 Underemployment / unemployment by Sector
Rate Rate
Employment
province and district 2.7 4.7 57.4
All Island
Colombo 2.3 5.1 39.0
Figure 6.2: Gampaha 2.0 4.5 43.7
Underemployment, Unemployment rates by Kalutara 3.5 5.4 47.4
province - 2022 Kandy 2.4 6.7 51.6
Matale 2.2 5.6 60.6
Nuwara Eliya 0.9 4.3 48.9
Southern Galle 6.8 5.7 62.4
Matara 4.0 5.2 60.8
Central Hambantota 3.0 6.9 65.1
Jaffna 3.4 5.7 63.4
Western Mannar 0.4 2.7 80.2
Vavuniya 0.6 2.1 63.0
Uva Mullaitivu 3.2 2.3 74.1
Kilinochchi .. 4.4 65.5
Province

Northern Batticaloa 0.8 4.2 62.7


Ampara 1.0 4.3 63.5
Eastern Trincomalee 1.8 2.7 69.4
Kurunegala 2.9 3.9 63.5
Sabaragamuwa Puttalam 3.1 3.5 71.6
Anuradhapura 3.5 4.1 75.9
North Western Polonnaruwa 0.4 2.9 68.3
Badulla 4.5 4.6 67.2
North Central Monaragala 2.0 3.9 73.3
Rathnapura 2.8 3.5 67.5
0% 2% 4% 6% 8%
Kegalle 0.5 4.1 54.1
Rate
Unemployment Rate Underemployment Rate .. Not reported.
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
Both unemployment & underemployment are corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
indicators of labour under-utilization and provides high.
information on prevailing labour market slack. The
distribution of unemployment rate and
underemployment rate by province is shown in

34
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Map (7): Underemployment rate by district - 2022

- 35 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Informal Sector represents an important segment of the


economy and the labour market in many countries,
HIGHLIGHTS
especially developing countries; thus, measurement of the
informal sector is important in their own right as well as
contributing towards exhaustive estimates of GDP. Further Employment
informal sector plays a major role in employment creation, Contribution to
Informal Sector (%)
production and income generation.
Sri Lanka 57.4
Since its first appearance in the early 1970’s the term
“informal sector” has become so popular and nowadays it is
By Gender
used with different meanings for different purposes.
Originally it referred to a concept for data analysis and Male 62.0
policy making. Now it’s sometimes used in a much broader Female 48.6
sense to refer to a concept for the collection of data on
activities not covered by the existing, conventional source of
statistics. By Economic Sector

Agriculture 87.8
Key aspects of identifying informal sector Non-
46.5
Agriculture
 Registration of the organization (If the institutions
registered in Employment Provident Fund or in
Department of Inland Revenue, then that is
considered as formal)
or
 Accounts keeping practices of the organization (If the
institutions keep formal accounts, then that is
considered as formal)
or
 Total number of regular employees of the
organization (If the no. of regular employees greater
than or equal 10, that is considered as formal).

All other institutions which do not satisfy any one of


above conditions are considered as informal sector.
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

7.1 The informal economy

A review of national statistical definitions of the Figure 7.1:


Distribution of informal / formal sector
informal sector in different countries shows that
employment by economic sector - 2022
they do not always fully correspond to the
international definition adopted by the 15th
International Conference of Labour Statisticians 100%
(15th ICLS) and the System of National Accounts
75% 46.5
(SNA) 1993. 57.4
87.8
50%
The international comparability of data on the
informal sector is affected by national differences 25% 53.5
42.6
in data sources, in the geographical coverage of
12.2
surveys, in the branches of economic activity 0%
Total Agricultural Non Agricultural
covered etc. Therefore, a criterion which is to
define the informal sector varies among countries.
Formal Informal
However, most of the countries tend to collect
informal sector information, especially those using
labour force or other household surveys for the Table 7.1 and Figure 7.1 show that, in Sri Lanka
measurement of employment in the informal the contribution of informal sector employment to
sector, were advised by the experts to use the the total employment is about 57.4 percent. The
criteria of registration of the organization, survey results also reveal that 87.8 percent of
accounts keeping system and size of their agricultural employment comprises with informal
organization. sector employment, and agriculture formal sector
employment is 12.2 percent. Formal sector
In such situation, Department of Census and agricultural employment mainly comprises with
Statistics observed the necessity of having employment in Estate sector, owned by
informal sector information, and therefore, after government or corporate sector. However, in non-
carefully reviewing of LFS schedule with the agricultural sector percentage of formal sector
assistance of the ESCAP regional advisor on employment is slightly higher than informal sector
Economic Statistics, relevant questions were employment.
included to the schedule aiming to collect the
information relating to the informal sector from Table7.2: Distribution of informal / formal sector
2006 onwards. employment by gender - 2022

In 2013, new questions were introduced to the Sector


survey in order to improve statistics on informal Total
Gender Formal Informal
sector employment in the country. However,
definition of the informal sector is same as in No. % No. %. No. %
2006.
Total 8,147,731 100.0 3,469,040 42.6 4,678,690 57.4

7.2 Distribution of informal / formal


Male 5,373,965 100.0 2,044,657 38.0 3,329,308 62.0
sector employment

Table 7.1: Composition of Informal / Formal sector Female 2,773,766 100.0 1,424,384 51.4 1,349,382 48.6
employment by economic sector – 2022

Economic sector According to the Table 7.2, among employed


Informal /
formal sector Non
Total Agricultural male majority are working in the informal sector,
agricultural
No. 8,147,731 2,158,559 5,989,172 that percentage is 62.0 percent and for female this
Total percentage is 48.6 percent. Female formal sector
% 100.0 100.0 100.0
Formal No. 3,469,040 262,929 3,206,111 participation is higher compared to that of male,
sector % 42.6 12.2 53.5 when the percentage is considered.
Informal No. 4,678,690 1,895,630 2,783,060
sector % 57.4 87.8 46.5
- 37 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table7.3: Distribution of informal / formal sector Table7.5: Distribution of informal / formal sector
employment by level of education – 2022 employment by main occupation - 2022

Sector Sector
Level of Total Total
Formal Informal Occupation Formal Informal
education No. % No. % No. %
No. % No. % No. % Total 8,147,731 100.0 3,469,040 42.6 4,678,690 57.4
Total 8,147,731 100.0 3,469,040 42.6 4,678,690 57.4 1.Managers, Senior Officials and Legislators
Grade 5 Chief executive,
1,030,864 100.0 180,934 17.6 849,931 82.4 Senior Official, 16,846 100.0 16,846 100.0 .. ..
and below
Legislators
Grade
3,671,867 100.0 1,042,841 28.4 2,629,026 71.6 Administrative &
6 - 10
Commercial 76,957 100.0 74,344 96.6 2,614 3.4
G.C.E.(O/L) 1,437,627 100.0 686,743 47.8 750,884 52.2 Managers
Production and
G.C.E.(A/L)
2,007,372 100.0 1,558,522 77.6 448,850 22.4 Specialized 118,528 100.0 87,476 73.8 31,052 26.2
& above services Managers
Hospitality, Shop
Table 7.3, gives clear evidence for the and Related 128,563 100.0 67,191 52.3 61,372 47.7
relationship between level of education and services Managers
2.Professionals 596,432 100.0 499,671 83.8 96,760 16.2
informal sector participation. When level of
3.Technical &
education increases informal sector participation Associate 688,341 100.0 588,270 85.5 100,071 14.5
decreases and this is opposite for formal sector. Professionals
4.Clerks and Clerical
296,177 100.0 275,764 93.1 20,412 6.9
support workers
5.Services and Sales
901,590 100.0 432,292 47.9 469,299 52.1
Table7.4: Distribution of Informal / Formal sector workers
6.Skilled Agricultural,
employment by employment status - 2022
Forestry and Fishery 1,310,662 100.0 40,189 3.1 1,270,474 96.9
workers
Sector 7.Craft and Related
Status of Total 1,173,642 100.0 258,645 22.0 914,997 78.0
Formal Informal Trades workers
education 8.Plant and Machine
No. % No. % No. % Operators and 786,507 100.0 368,288 46.8 418,219 53.2
Assemblers
Total 8,147,731 100.0 3,469,040 100.0 4,678,690 100.0
9.Elementary
2,007,366 100.0 721,606 35.9 1,285,760 64.1
occupations
Employees 4,728,424 58.0 3,070,076 88.5 1,658,348 35.4
10.Armed Forces
occupations &
Employer 236,581 2.9 123,287 3.6 113,294 2.4 46,120 100.0 38,459 83.4 7,660 16.6
Unidentified
Own occupations
account 2,700,650 33.1 220,682 6.4 2,479,968 53.0
.. Not reported.
worker
Contributing These figures are to be treated with caution as the
family 482,075 5.9 54,994 1.6 427,080 9.1 corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
worker

The Table 7.4 shows the distribution of employed The Table 7.5 disaggregates total employment
population by status of employment and by into formal/informal and into occupation groups as
formal/informal sector. The composition of the identified in SLSCO-08. It is clear that some
employment by status of employment is different occupation categories are highly consist with
for two sectors informal & formal. In informal informal sector occupation.
sector highest percentage is reported the own
account worker category (53.0%), in contrast to ISCO – 08
formal sector where highest percentage is
employees (88.5%). From 2013 onward, the survey uses SLSCO – 08,
based on International Standard Classification of
Occupation – 2008 (ISCO – 08) for occupation
classification. The classifications is mainly based
two concepts ‘ the kind of work performed or job’
and ‘skills’.
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

7.3 Distribution of Informal Sector Map (8): Participation rate of informal sector
Employment in non-agriculture sector by districts – 2022

In general, agriculture sector in developing


countries highly concentrate with informal sector
employment. However, the geographical
distribution of non-agricultural employment is
heterogeneous. Hence, it is important to see the
geographical distribution of informal sector
employment in non-agricultural sector.

Table7.6: Distribution of Informal sector employment


in Non - Agriculture sector by district - 2022

District % District %

Total 46.5 Mullaitivu 57.8


Colombo 38.4 Kilinochchi 50.1
Gampaha 41.6 Batticaloa 48.5
Kalutara 38.7 Ampara 51.4
Kandy 45.1 Trincomalee 58.6
Figure 7.2:
Matale 51.3 Kurunegala 52.0 Distribution of informal sector employment by
major industry group - 2022
Nuwara Eliya 42.3 Puttalam 64.8
Galle 49.8 Anuradhapura 52.1 13.4%
Matara 45.9 Polonnaruwa 48.3 Education (P)

Hambantota 49.8 Badulla 47.7 43.0%


Manufacturing (C)
Jaffna 54.8 Monaragala 48.0
Mannar 60.5 Rathnapura 50.7 61.8%
Accommodation and food
Vavuniya 49.0 Kegalle 44.9 services activities (I)

Construction, Electricity, gas, 75.1%


Non-agricultural sector comprises with industry steam and air conditioning
supply, Water supply,…
and service sector activities. The distribution of
87.8%
informal sector employment in non-agriculture by Agriculture, forestry and
fishing (A)
district is given in Table 7.6. In 2022 about 46.5
percent of non-agricultural sector employment 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
comprises with informal sector activities. The
existing differences of percentages among the Looking at the Informal sector employment by
districts may be due to the disparities in regional major industry groups, 87.8 percent of total
distribution of non-agricultural industries. Puttalam agricultural employment is in the informal sector
(64.8%) district share more than 60 percent of (Figure 7.2).
their non-agriculture employment in informal
The percentage 75.1 is the second highest this
sector (Map 8).
group consist with industries, ‘Construction,
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply,
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and
remediation activities. ‘Education’ group consist
with the lowest percentage of informal sector
employment. (13.4%). There is 43.0 percent of
informal sector employment in the
‘Manufacturing’ category.
- 39 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER EIGHT

Multiple jobholding arises when individuals work in more


than one job at the same time. The term ‘Secondary
HIGHLIGHTS
Employment’ comes with the multiple jobholding. This has
been increased considerably in transition & industrialized
countries in recent decades. Statistical information on Employed Population
multiple jobholding is limited in developing countries also in
Sri Lanka 8,147,731
Sri Lanka when comparing with some other
developing/developed countries. However at present, Male 5,373,965

developing countries also collects information on multiple Female 2,773,766


jobs due its importance at the statistical estimations on
entire labour market. Also multiple jobholding directly
Secondary Employed
affects the country’s job market. Therefore it is vital to have Population
detail statistics on multiple job holding in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka 486,160

Male 391,620
Multiple Job Holders
Female 94,540

Multiple jobholders are persons who work more than one


job at the same period of time (during survey reference
Total Jobs
period).
Sri Lanka 8,633,890

Secondary Job Holders Male 5,765,584

Those who have engaged in a secondary activity other Female 2,868,306


than the main activity during the survey reference period
are considered as secondary job holders.
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

8.1 Secondary Employment in Sri Lanka

Department of Census and Statistics released Out of the total secondary jobs, highest share is
statistical data on multiple job holders for the first reported from Agriculture sector (62.2%) whereas
time in 2014. Individuals may have multiple jobs at Services and Industries sectors shares 24.5 and
the same time; however, due to practical 13.3 percent respectively (Figure 8.1). When the
problems labour force survey collects data only on employed population in main job is considered,
two jobs, main and secondary. This part of chapter services sector illustrates the highest share
discusses secondary employment. (47.0%) whereas Agriculture and Industry sectors
shares 26.5 percent (Figure 8.2). These results
Table 8.1: Distribution of employed population & show that many of the jobs in secondary
total jobs by main and secondary job (2018 – 2022)
employment are agriculture activities.

Employment Jobs
Year Figure 8.1:
Main job Main and Distribution of employed population by
Total % % % Total
only Secondary
considering secondary job by major industry
2018 8,015,166 100.0 7,511,246 93.7 503,920 6.3 8,519,085 groups – 2022

2019 8,180,693 100.0 7,648,586 93.5 532,107 6.5 8,712,799


Services
2020 7,999,093 100.0 7,485,352 93.6 513,741 6.4 8,512,834 24.5%

2021 8,113,507 100.0 7,623,957 94.0 489,550 6.0 8,603,057

2022 8,147,731 100.0 7,661,571 94.0 486,160 6.0 8,633,890

Industry Agriculture
The survey results show that 486,160 (6.0%) of 13.3% 62.2%
total employed, persons hold secondary jobs
during the survey year 2022. Out of these
secondary employed persons, 391,620 were males Agriculture Industry Services
and 94,540 were females. Table 8.1 also
illustrates that the 94.0 percent of employed
population have been engaged in main job only.
Considering main and secondary employment
together, about 8.6 million total number of jobs
Figure 8.2:
are estimated at the survey year 2022. Distribution of employed population by
considering main job by major industry groups
Table 8.2: Distribution of employed population by – 2022
main and secondary job and by sector – 2022

Agriculture
Main and 26.5%
Employed Main job
Sector % % Secondary %
population only
jobs

Total 8,147,731 100.0 7,661,571 94.0 486,160 6.0 Services


47.0%
Urban 1,298,138 100.0 1,264,725 97.4 33,413 2.6

Rural 6,455,261 100.0 6,012,364 93.1 442,897 6.9

Estate 394,331 100.0 384,481 97.5 9,850 2.5 Industry


26.5%
Table 8.2 shows the distribution of main and Agriculture Industry Services
secondary job population among sectors. Highest
rate of secondary job was reported from Rural
sector (6.9%) among all sectors whereas rates of
Estate and Urban sectors are 2.6 and 2.5 percent
respectively.
- 41 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 8.3: Percentage distribution of secondary Those who have grade 6 to 10 level of education
employment by employment status & gender – 2022 show highest percentage (53.1%) among
secondary employed population (Figure 8.4).
Employment Total
Total Male Female
Status No. Table 8.4: Distribution of secondary employment by
486,160 100.0 80.6 19.4 occupation group – 2022
Total
Employee 89,768 100.0 85.5 14.5 Secondary
Employer 11,500 100.0 88.5 11.5 Employed
Occupation Group Population
Own Account
333,780 100.0 84.6 15.4 No %
Worker
Contributing Total 486,160 100.0
51,111 100.0 44.0 56.0
Family Worker Managers, Senior Officials and
These figures are to be treated with caution as the 9,679 2.0
Legislators
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Professionals 24,522 5.0

Figure 8.3: Technicians and Associate


10,844 2.2
Professionals
Percentage distribution of secondary
Clerks and Clerical Support
employment by employment status by gender – 718 0.1
workers
2022
Services and Sales workers 24,377 5.0

Contributing Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and


244,539 50.3
Family 44.0% 56.0% Fishery workers
Worker Craft and Related Trade workers 41,065 8.4
Own
Account 84.6% 15.4% Plant and Machine operators and
31,093 6.4
Worker Assemblers
Elementary occupations 98,978 20.4
Employer 88.5% 11.5%
Armed Forces occupations and
345 0.1
undefined occupations
Employee 85.5% 14.5% These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Male Female
Table 8.4 shows the categorization of the
Table 8.3 & Figure 8.3 show the distribution of secondary employed population by major
secondary employment by employment status. occupation groups. The choice of multiple
Share of contributing family workers is 56.0 jobholding vary among different workers in
percent for females, which is much higher different occupation groups. Skilled Agricultural,
compared to the contribution of male (44.0%) in Forestry and Fishery workers are the highest
the same category. In other three categories the percentage (50.3%) reported among secondary
percentages are much higher for males than occupation.
females.
Table 8.5: Contribution of secondary employment to
the Informal / Formal sector by major industry
Figure 8.4: groups – 2022
Distribution of secondary employment by level
of education – 2022 Formal/ Major Industry groups
Informal
60% Sector Total Agriculture Industries Services
53.1%
Total 486,160 302,423 64,516 119,220

40% % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0


Formal 30,269 6,249 7,312 16,707
17.4%
20% 16.4% 13.0%
% 6.2 2.1 11.3 14.0
Informal 455,891 296,174 57,204 102,513
0%
% 93.8 97.9 88.7 86.0
Grade 5 & Grade 6-10 G.C.E. (O/L) G.C.E. (A/L)
Below & above These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 8.5 and Figure 8.5 show that, the share of Figure 8.6 shows the contribution of male and
informal sector employment to the total secondary female to the jobs in Sri Lanka separately for main,
employment is 93.8 percent in Sri Lanka. When secondary and total jobs. Share of male to the
considering the secondary employment in total jobs (66.8%) is about two times higher to the
agriculture sector almost all are in informal sector share of females (33.2%).
(97.9%). Also the share of informal sector is very
high in both Industries and services group. Table 8.6: Distribution of total jobs by sector – 2022

Figure 8.5: Sector Main Jobs %


Secondary
% Total jobs %
Contribution of secondary employment to the Jobs
informal / formal sector by major industry groups
Total 8,147,731 100.0 486,160 100.0 8,633,890 100.0
– 2022
Urban 1,298,138 15.9 33,413 6.9 1,331,550 15.4

100% Rural 6,455,261 79.2 442,897 91.1 6,898,158 79.9


2.1%
6.2%
95% 11.3% Estate 394,331 4.8 9,850 2.0 404,182 4.7
14.0%
90%
Table 8.6 shows the distribution of jobs by
97.9%
85% 93.8%
residential sector separately for main, secondary
88.7% and total jobs. It is estimated that 79.9% of total
80% 86.0%
jobs are supplied by rural sector individuals.

75%
Table 8.7: Distribution of total jobs by level of
Total Agriculture Industries Services
education – 2022
Informal Formal
Level of Secondary
Main Jobs % % Total Jobs %
Education Jobs
8.2 Total Jobs in Sri Lanka
Total 8,147,731 100.0 486,160 100.0 8,633,890 100.0
To calculate total jobs, main and secondary Grade 5 &
1,030,864 12.7 79,940 16.4 1,110,804 12.9
employments are considered. Total number of Below
jobs is estimated by adding the total number of Grade
3,671,867 45.1 258,170 53.1 3,930,037 45.5
6-10
main jobs (Total employment) and the total G.C.E.
1,437,627 17.6 63,298 13.0 1,500,926 17.4
number of secondary jobs. (O/L)
G.C.E.
As gives in Table 8.1, the total estimated jobs in (A/L) & 2,007,372 24.6 84,752 17.4 2,092,124 24.2
above
Sri Lanka in the survey year 2022, is about
8,633,890. As given in Table 8.7 about 58.4 percent of total
jobs are supplied by the individuals with less than
Figure 8.6:
G.C.E. (O/L) level of education.
Percentage distribution of jobs in Sri Lanka by
gender – 2022

100%
19.4%
80% 34.0% 33.2%

60%

40% 80.6%
66.0% 66.8%
20%

0%
Main job Secondary job Total jobs

Male Female

- 43 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 8.8: Distribution of total jobs by age groups – 2022 Figure 8.7:
Distribution of jobs by major industry groups –
Age 2022
Main Secondary Total
group % % %
Jobs Jobs jobs
(Yrs)
Total 8,147,731 100.0 486,160 100.0 8,633,890 100.0
45.8%
15 - 19 102,692 1.3 1,831 0.4 104,522 1.2
20 - 24 532,876 6.5 6,104 1.3 538,981 6.2 Services 24.5%

25 - 29 737,356 9.0 17,061 3.5 754,417 8.7 47.0%

30 - 39 1,741,901 21.4 94,603 19.5 1,836,504 21.3


40 &
5,032,906 61.8 366,560 75.4 5,399,467 62.5 25.7%
above
These figures are to be treated with caution as the Industries 13.3%
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
26.5%

The Table 8.8 shows that about 62.5 percent of


total jobs is supplied by the individuals with age 40 28.5%
and above. The youth (15-24 years) labour supply
Agriculture 62.2%
for the total jobs is about 7.4 percent.
26.5%

Table 8.9: Distribution of total jobs by major industry


groups – 2022 0.0% 20.0% 40.0% 60.0% 80.0%

Total jobs Secondary Jobs Main Jobs


Industry Main Secondary Total
% % %
groups Jobs Jobs jobs

Total 8,147,731 100.0 486,160 100.0 8,633,890 100.0

Agriculture 2,158,559 26.5 302,423 62.2 2,460,982 28.5

Industries 2,158,199 26.5 64,516 13.3 2,222,715 25.7

Services 3,830,973 47.0 119,220 24.5 3,950,194 45.8

Table 8.9 and Figure 8.7 show the distribution of


main, secondary and total jobs by major industry
groups. Distribution of total number of jobs by
industry groups is very important, especially when
the productivities are calculated for total labour
market.
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER NINE

Informal employment accounts for a substantial portion


employment in many developing countries. It encompasses HIGHLIGHTS
persons in employment who, by law or in practice, are not
subject to national labour legislation and income tax or
Informal Employment
entitled to social protection and employment benefits.
(%)
Informal employment can exist in both the informal and the
Sri Lanka 67.2
formal sector of the economy.
(Measuring informality: a statistical manual on the informal
sector and informal employment/International Labour Office. By Gender
- Geneva: ILO, 2013)
Male 71.3
Sri Lanka Quarterly Labour Force Survey questionnaire was
revised in year 2006 so as to include questions to identify Female 59.2

informal sector and informal employment. In 2013 new


changes were made to study informal employment for
By Economic Sector
declaration of the jobs or the employees in detail. A statistical
Agriculture 91.4
definition for informal employment has finalized in 2017 and
Non-
throughout this chapter, characteristics of informal 58.4
Agriculture
employment is discussed broadly.

Key aspects of identifying Informal employment Informal


Employment
1) All unpaid family workers in Formal 22.8
2) All employers and own account workers in informal Sector
Enterprises
sector
3) All paid employees who do not have a permanent
employer
4) All paid employees whose employers are not
contributing to pension scheme or provident fund on
their behalf.

- 45 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

9.1 Concept of Informal Employment & Figure 9.1:


Conceptual Framework Conceptual framework (17th ICLS Guidelines)

Goal Eight of seventeen SDG goals directly


focuses an informal economy, specially in informal
employment.

The 17th ICLS (International Conference of Labour


Statisticians) Guidelines specifically say that “the
operational criteria for defining informal jobs of
employees are to be determined in accordance
with national circumstances and data availability.”
Some countries (especially developing countries)
may choose to develop a measure that includes
For Sri Lanka, yet the “Household” sector has not
informal jobs of own-account workers, employers
defined. Further the category “Members of
etc. while other countries (especially developed
Producer’s cooperative” has not defined
countries) may wish to limit the measurement of
separately. Therefore the conceptual framework of
informal employment to employee jobs only.
Figure 9.1 is reduced to Table 9.1. By adding the
cell values from 1 to 6, a value for the informal
Also in 17th ICLS, Jobs (main job and secondary
employment can be calculated.
job) rather than employed persons were taken as
the units of observation in informal employment.
Table 9.1: Conceptual framework informal
But in Sri Lankan scenario, main job of an
employment – 2022
employed person only to be considered to build
the definition of informal employment.
Jobs by status in employment
However this can be further improved using Contribu
Own-account ting
information of the secondary employment. workers
Employers
family
Employees
workers

Figure 9.1 gives the conceptual framework of


Informal

Informal

Informal

Informal
Formal

Formal

Formal
Informal Employment5.

In Figure 9.1 below type of production unit (rows Formal


sector 54,994 737,568
in the table) is defined in terms of legal enterprises
organization and other enterprise-related Informal
characteristics (classifications are done according sector 2,479,968 113,294 427,080 1,658,348
enterprises
to the informal sector definition of Sri Lanka), while
type of job (columns) is defined in terms of status
in employment and other job-related The estimated total number of informal
characteristics. The main occupation is used to employment is about 5,471,252. This is about
calculate informal employment. 67.2% of the total employment. When compared
to informal sector employment which is about
57.4% of total employment. This shows that
informal employment is higher than informal
sector employment.

5 Reference for ICLS 17th

46
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

9.2 Distribution of Informal / Formal


Employment Table 9.3: Distribution of informal / formal
employment by gender - 2022

Table 9.2: Composition of informal / formal


Employment
employment by economic sector – 2022 Total
Formal Informal
Gender
Employment Employment
Economic Sector No. % No. %. No. %
Informal / Formal
Employment Non
Total Agricultural
Agricultural Total 8,147,731 100.0 2,676,478 32.8 5,471,252 67.2
No. 8,147,731 2,158,559 5,989,172
Total Male 5,373,965 100.0 1,543,501 28.7 3,830,464 71.3
% 100.0 100.0 100.0

Formal No. 2,676,478 185,827 2,490,651 Female 2,773,766 100.0 1,132,978 40.8 1,640,788 59.2
Employment % 32.8 8.6 41.6

Informal No. 5,471,252 1,972,732 3,498,521 As given in Table 9.3 when male/ female
Employment % 67.2 91.4 58.4 employment distribution is considered 71.3
percent of employed males are in informal
employment, while this percentage is 59.2 percent
Table 9.2 and Figure 9.3 show that in Agriculture for female.
sector 91.4 percent is informal employment while
this percentage is 58.4 in Non- agriculture sector.
Table 9.4: Distribution of informal / formal
Figure 9.2: employment by level of education - 2022
Distribution of total employment, informal
employment, informal sector – 2022
Employment
Level of Total Formal Informal
Education Employment Employment
Total Employment No. % No. % No. %
8,147,731
Total 8,147,731 100.0 2,676,478 32.8 5,471,252 67.2
Grade 5 &
1,030,864 100.0 100,503 9.7 930,361 90.3
Informal Below
Employment Informal Sector Grade 6 - 10 3,671,867 100.0 680,441 18.5 2,991,426 81.5
5,471,252 4,678,690 G.C.E.(O/L) 1,437,627 100.0 520,863 36.2 916,764 63.8
G.C.E.(A/L)
2,007,372 100.0 1,374,670 68.5 632,702 31.5
& above

Informal employment is higher among persons


with lower level of education compared to that of
Figure 9.3: persons with higher level of education.
Distribution of informal / formal employment by
economic sector - 2022
Table 9.5: Distribution of informal / formal
employment by employment status - 2022
100%

80%
58.4 Employment
67.2 Total
60% Status of Formal Informal
91.4 Education Employment Employment
40% No. % No. % No. %
Total 8,147,731 100.0 2,676,478 100.0 5,471,252 100.0
20% 41.6
32.8
Employees 4,728,424 58.0 2,332,509 87.1 2,395,916 43.8
0% 8.6
Total Agriculture Non agriculture Employer 236,581 2.9 123,287 4.6 113,294 2.1
Own account
Formal employment Informal employment 2,700,650 33.1 220,682 8.2 2,479,968 45.3
worker
Contributing
482,075 5.9 0 0.0 482,075 8.8
family worker

- 47 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

According to the informal employment definition some occupations have comparatively lower
all of the contributing family workers are percentage of informal employment.
considered as informal employment. Table 9.5
shows 43.8 percent of informal employment are Table 9.7: Composition of employment in non-
employees and 45.3 percent are own account agriculture sector – 2022
workers.
Non-agriculture Sector
Informal /
Table 9.6: Distribution of informal / formal Formal Sector Formal Informal
Total
Employment Employment
employment by occupation - 2022
No. 5,989,172 2,490,651 3,498,521
Employment Total
% 100.0 41.6 58.4
Total Formal Informal
Occupation
Employment Employment Formal No. 3,206,111 2,490,651 715,460
No. % No. % No. % Sector % 100.0 77.7 22.3
Total 8,147,731 100.0 2,676,478 32.8 5,471,252 67.2
Informal No. 2,783,060 0 2,783,060
1.Managers, Senior Officials and Legislators
Sector % 100.0 0.0 100.0
Chief Executive,
Senior Official, 16,846 100.0 14,846 88.1 2,000 11.9
Legislators About 58.4 percent of non-agriculture sector
Administrative
& Commercial 76,957 100.0 68,331 88.8 8,626 11.2 employment is informal employment. This
Managers percentage for male is 63.2% and for female it is
Production and
Specialized 49.1% (Table 9.8).
118,528 100.0 84,687 71.4 33,840 28.6
services
Managers
Hospitality, Table 9.8: Composition of employment in non-
Shop and agriculture sector by sex – 2022
128,563 100.0 62,247 48.4 66,316 51.6
Related services
Managers Non-agriculture Sector
2.Professionals 596,432 100.0 462,692 77.6 133,740 22.4 Sex Formal Informal
3.Technical & Total
Employment Employment
Associate 688,341 100.0 512,661 74.5 175,680 25.5
Professionals No. 5,989,172 2,490,651 3,498,521
4.Clerks and Total
% 100.0 41.6 58.4
Clerical
296,177 100.0 224,220 75.7 71,956 24.3
support No. 3,951,955 1,452,944 2,499,010
workers Male
5.Services and % 100.0 36.8 63.2
901,590 100.0 309,114 34.3 592,476 65.7
Sales workers No. 2,037,217 1,037,707 999,510
6.Skilled Female
Agricultural, % 100.0 50.9 49.1
1,310,662 100.0 27,933 2.1 1,282,729 97.9
Forestry and
Fishery workers
7.Craft and Table 9.9: Percentage of informal employment in
Related Trades 1,173,642 100.0 164,914 14.1 1,008,728 85.9
workers non-agriculture sector by district - 2022
8.Plant and
Machine District % District %
786,507 100.0 270,843 34.4 515,663 65.6
Operators and
Assemblers Total 58.4 Mullaitivu 67.0
9.Elementary
2,007,366 100.0 436,595 21.7 1,570,771 78.3
occupations Colombo 49.7 Kilinochchi 59.2
10.Armed Forces
occupations & Gampaha 54.2 Batticaloa 61.2
46,120 100.0 37,394 81.1 8,726 18.9
Unidentified
occupations
Kalutara 52.0 Ampara 60.9
These figures are to be treated with caution as the Kandy 57.9 Trincomalee 66.6
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
high. Matale 67.3 Kurunegala 63.8
Nuwara Eliya 54.5 Puttalam 76.0
The Table 9.6 disaggregates Formal/Informal
Galle 63.7 Anuradhapura 62.5
employment into occupation groups as identified
in SLSCO-08. It is clear that some occupation Matara 58.5 Polonnaruwa 63.8
categories are highly consisted with informal Hambantota 58.4 Badulla 59.8
employment, such as Skilled Agricultural Forestry Jaffna 64.7 Monaragala 61.0
and Fishery workers, Craft and Related Trades Mannar 69.8 Rathnapura 62.1
workers, Elementary occupations and etc. While
Vavuniya 59.0 Kegalle 55.5

48
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Except Colombo, all other district more than fifty Table 9.10: Distribution of informal employees by job
percent of employment are informal employment important characteristics - 2022

in non-agriculture sector, while in Puttalam district


Informal Employment
this percentage is 76.0 percent. This information is All Employees
Total Male Female
clearly depicted in Figure 9.4.
Total 2,395,916 1,806,504 589,412
Permanent 98,478 71,293 27,185
Figure 9.4:
Distribution of informal employment in non- Self-stated Temporary 1,151,430 837,786 313,644
agriculture sector by district - 2022 job category Casual 383,092 257,375 125,717
No
permanent 762,916 640,050 122,866
employer

Sri Lanka
Employees with Informal Employment
Puttalam
permanent employer Total Male Female
Mannar
Total 1,632,999 1,166,454 466,546
Matale Entitled for
Mullaitivu annual paid Yes 74,811 45,636 29,175
leave or
Trincomalee No 1,521,629 1,096,503 425,126
leave
Jaffna encashment Do not
36,560 24,315 12,245
know
Polonnaruwa
Have an Total 1,632,999 1,166,454 466,546
Kurunegala appointment
Yes 177,190 114,231 62,959
Galle letter (written
Anuradhapura
contract) No 1,427,063 1,033,892 393,171
from your Do not
Rathnapura employer 28,747 18,331 10,416
know
Batticaloa
Monaragala As given in Table 9.10 among informal
Ampara employee’s majority reported that their
Badulla employment is “Temporary”. About 0.8 million
Kilinochchi informal employees do not have a permanent
Vavuniya employer. Majority of informal employees with a
Matara permanent employment do not entitle for annual
Hambantota
paid leave or leave encashment. Also majority of
Kandy
them do not have an appointment letter from their
Kegalle
employer.
Nuwara Eliya
Gampaha
Kalutara
Colombo

0 20 40 60 80
Percentage (%)

- 49 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER TEN

In order to provide information for educational planners,


especially in developing countries, literacy is an
important variable regarding the issues such as HIGHLIGHTS
improvement of the educational system and to increase
the educational related programs etc.
Literacy Rate (%)

Sri Lanka 93.1


As labour force surveys are often conducted at a higher
frequency than the other surveys, it was decided to
include the questions on literacy in order to provide By Gender
quarterly/Annual estimates for the data users and for the
Male 93.9
policy makers. LFS therefore estimates literacy by
Female 92.4
considering the language literacy skills for Sinhala, Tamil
and English. If a person (age 10 and above) is literate in
any one of the language then he/she is considered as By Sector

literate. Urban 95.4

Rural 93.2

Estate 82.2
Who is literate?

 A person who can both read and write with


understanding a short statement is considered as
“Literate”.
 A person who can read and write only his name,
figures or memorized phrase, are not considered
as “Literate”.

50
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

10.1 Distribution of Literacy Rate Table 10.2 provides district pattern of the literacy
levels by gender.
Table10.1: Literacy rate by sector & gender 2018 - 2022

Sector Gender Figure 10.1:


Sri
Year Literacy rates by district - 2022
Lanka
Urban Rural Estate Male Female

2018 92.5 94.4 92.6 82.1 93.4 91.6

2019 92.9 95.7 92.9 82.7 93.6 92.3 Badulla

2020 93.0 95.4 92.9 85.4 93.8 92.2 Kilinochchi

2021 93.3 95.7 93.3 82.5 94.3 92.3 Batticaloa

2022 93.1 95.4 93.2 82.2 93.9 92.4 Vavuniya

Polonnaruwa
Literacy rate for the population aged 10 years and
over is 93.1 percent in 2022. It means that about Rathnapura
93.1 percent of 10 years and above population Ampara
can both read and write with understanding a
Monaragala
short statement at least in any of three languages
Sinhala, Tamil or English. Urban sector literacy Trincomalee
rate is higher than Rural and Estate sector. Also
Puttalam
male literacy is slightly higher when compared
Nuwara Eliya
with that of the female.
Matara
District

Table10.2: Literacy rates by district & gender - 2022 Mullaitivu

Hambantota
Literacy rate (%)
District Anuradhapura
Total Male Female
Mannar
Total 93.1 93.9 92.4
Colombo 95.6 96.4 95.0 Kandy
Gampaha 97.0 97.0 96.9
Matale
Kalutara 95.5 96.1 95.1
Kandy 93.0 93.8 92.4 Kurunegala
Matale 93.3 94.5 92.3
Nuwara Eliya 91.2 92.7 89.8 Galle
Galle 93.9 93.9 93.8
Kalutara
Matara 91.9 92.3 91.5
Hambantota 92.4 91.9 92.9 Colombo
Jaffna 97.0 97.2 96.9
Mannar 93.0 93.6 92.5 Kegalle
Vavuniya 88.5 90.2 87.1
Gampaha
Mullaitivu 92.2 91.7 92.7
Kilinochchi 88.0 89.4 86.7 Jaffna
Batticaloa 88.1 89.3 87.0
Ampara 90.1 92.4 88.0 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Trincomalee 90.9 92.6 89.4
Literacy rate (%)
Kurunegala 93.7 94.6 93.0
Puttalam 91.2 91.0 91.3
Anuradhapura 92.8 94.2 91.7
Polonnaruwa 89.1 88.5 89.6 According to the Table 10.2 Jaffna and Gampaha
Badulla 86.1 89.1 83.5 districts shows the highest literacy rate (97.0%),
Monaragala 90.4 92.2 88.7 the lowest literacy rate is reported from Badulla
Rathnapura 89.6 90.8 88.5 district.
Kegalle 96.2 96.9 95.6

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table10.3: Literacy rates by age group & gender - Figure 10.2:


2022 Literacy rates by age group & gender - 2022

Age group Literacy rate (%)


10 – 14
100
Total Male Female 60 + 15 – 19
95
Total 93.1 93.9 92.4 90
10 – 14 98.9 98.7 99.2 55 - 59 85 20 – 24

15 – 19 98.9 98.3 99.5 80


20 – 24 98.7 98.3 99.1 75
50 – 54 25 – 29
25 – 29 98.2 97.7 98.7
30 – 34 97.9 97.6 98.2
35 – 39 96.7 95.8 97.5 45 - 49 30 – 34
40 – 44 95.7 95.1 96.2
40 – 44 35 – 39
45 - 49 94.0 94.1 93.9
Total Male Female
50 – 54 90.9 91.3 90.5
55 - 59 88.2 89.1 87.3
60 + 83.0 86.7 80.1
Map (9): Literacy rate by district – 2022
Lowest literacy rate (83.0%) is reported in
population over 60 years while highest (98.9%) is
reported among aged 10 – 19 years.

Younger cohorts show higher literacy rates and


this indicates the achievement of primary
education of the country. This is clearly depicted
in the Figure 10.2. Also higher literacy among
female in younger age groups (below age 44
years) compared to male literacy in same age
groups show very important pattern. As such, it
shows the absence of gender discrimination in
achieving education of the country.

Map 9 shows the district level literacy rates,


higher literacy rates observed in the Western
area of the country.

52
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Timely and accurate information on Information and


Communication Technology (ICT) itself is essential for HIGHLIGHTS
justification and proper direction of the Government
efforts, private sector investments, to study the changing
pattern of the demand for internet services and for Computer Literacy
continuous progress monitoring on ICT achievements. Rate (%)

For this computer literacy data can contribute immensely Sri Lanka 36.0
to an understanding of the demand and supply of skills
in the global, knowledge based economy. Also statistics
on the availability of a computer/laptop in households By Gender
and usage of internet and email that exist between
Male 37.3
demographic and geographic groups provides more
insight for the scattering of ICT facilities. Female 34.8

To cater the relevant data need Department of Census &


Statistics has conducted Computer Literacy Surveys in By Language Literacy
2004, 2006/07 and 2009 to measure household
characteristics of the usage of computers. Since 2014, Sinhala 42.3
new chapter is included to labour force survey report to
Tamil 41.5
disseminate computer literacy information annually.
English 77.1

What is the computer literacy?

A person (aged 5-69) is considered as a computer literate


person if he/she could use computer on his/her own. For
example, even if a 5 years old child can play a computer
game then he/she is considered as a computer literate
person.

- 53 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

11.1 Household Computer Ownership

If a desktop or laptop is available at a household Figure 11.1:


then that household is considered as a computer Percentage of desktop or laptop computer
owned household. Table 11.1 shows the owned households by province, 2020 - 2022
percentage distribution of computer owned
households by Sector and Province. In 2022, at
Western
least one computer is available in 21.9 percent of 40.0
Sabaraga
households in the country. That is about one out muwa 30.0
Central
of every five households owns either a desktop or
20.0
a laptop computer. This percentage is 36.1
10.0
percent in Urban sector and Rural and Estate Uva Southern
sector show 20.0 percent and 3.1 percent 0.0

respectively. When the provinces are considered


the highest availability is in the Western province North-
Northern
(35.8%) while the lowest availability is reported central

from the Eastern (11.4%). North-


Eastern
western

2020 2021 2022


Table11.1: Percentage of computer owned
households by sector, province and survey year,
Percentage of availability of desktop or laptop
2020 - 2022
computer at a household vary between 22% - 23%
between 2019 to 2022 period.
Desktop or
Sector/ Desktop(%)
Laptop(%)
Province 11.2 Computer Literacy and Digital
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022
literacy
Sri Lanka 7.6 7.0 6.3 22.2 22.9 21.9

Urban 10.6 10.3 9.6 37.1 38.3 36.1

Rural 7.3 6.6 5.9 20.1 20.7 20.0 Definition for Computer literacy:
Estate 1.9 1.6 0.7 3.8 4.1 3.1 A person (aged 5-69) is considered as a
computer literate person if he/she could use
Province
computer on his/her own. For example, even
Western 10.9 11.0 9.5 35.1 36.5 35.8 if a 5 years old child can play a computer
Central 6.8 6.1 4.8 19.7 19.7 19.0 game, then he/she is considered as a
computer literate person.
Southern 7.5 6.2 6.2 20.1 19.8 19.5

Northern 3.4 3.1 1.6 14.3 15.1 12.9 Definition for computer literacy rate:
Computer Literate population expressed as a
Eastern 4.2 3.8 3.7 12.6 11.9 11.4
percentage to the total population, (aged 5 –
North-western 6.8 5.5 6.4 18.6 18.6 19.3 69 years) within the respective domain.
North-central 3.7 4.3 3.6 15.3 16.1 13.4 Definition for Digital literacy:
Uva 4.5 3.7 3.3 11.9 13.4 12.4 A person (aged 5-69) is considered as a digital
literate person if he/she could use computer,
Sabaragamuwa 10.7 8.7 7.9 20.2 22.0 20.0
lap top, tablet or smartphone on his/her own.
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are Definition for Digital literacy rate:
high. Digital Literate population expressed as a
percentage to the total population, (aged 5 –
69 years) within the respective domain.

54
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table11.2: Computer literacy rate by sector, Table 11.3: Computer literacy rate by gender, age,
province and survey year, 2019 - 2022 level of education and language literacy, 2020 -
2022
Computer literacy rate (%)
Sector/Province Gender, Age group, Computer literacy rate
2020 2021 2022 (%)
Education attainment
Sri Lanka 32.3 34.3 36.0 and Language literacy 2020 2021 2022
Sector Sri Lanka 32.3 34.3 36.0
By Sex
Urban 45.4 49.0 48.9 Male 34.1 36.1 37.3
Rural 30.7 32.3 34.6 Female 30.7 32.6 34.8
By Age group(years)
Estate 12.7 13.9 11.5
5-9 14.3 17.1 15.5
Province 10 - 14 44.8 47.0 49.0
Western 45.2 45.9 47.5
15 - 19 67.9 71.4 74.8
20 - 24 63.8 67.8 69.3
Central 31.9 31.6 33.7 25 - 29 52.9 55.8 59.3
Southern 31.6 30.7 33.9 30 - 34 42.0 44.9 47.4
35 - 39 31.3 34.0 38.4
Northern 18.0 27.9 31.4
40 - 49 22.5 23.9 25.7
Eastern 19.7 28.9 30.2 50 - 59 13.7 14.4 14.8
60 - 69 6.7 7.0 7.5
North Western 29.3 31.2 33.1
By Educational
North Central 22.5 23.4 24.0 attainment
Uva 22.3 24.2 24.1 No schooling 1.8 2.8 3.1
Below grade 6 10.9 12.6 12.9
Sabaragamuwa 32.0 34.1 35.3 Grade 6-10 21.3 22.3 24.8
G.C.E (O/L) 46.1 46.2 49.1
Percentage of Computer Literate population G.C.E. (A/L) or above 74.3 76.8 77.8
By Language literacy
(Computer Literacy) over the survey periods has
Sinhala 39.7 40.3 42.3
been gradually increasing. Overall Computer Tamil 33.7 37.5 41.5
Literacy reported in 2022 for Sri Lanka is 36.0 English 74.0 76.3 77.1
percent.
Figure 11.2:
Distribution of computer literacy rate by
The survey results show an increase of 3.7
educational attainment and language literacy,
percentage points from 2020 to 2022. Urban
2020 - 2022
sector shows the highest computer literacy rate
(48.9%) among residential sectors in 2022. 80
Computer literacy rate for Rural and Estate sectors 70
60
are 34.6 percent and 11.5 percent respectively.
Percentage (%)

50
40
Among the provinces the highest level of
30
computer literacy is reported from the Western 20
province (47.5%). The lowest computer literacy is 10
reported from the North Central province (24.0%). 0
No schooling

Sinhala
G.C.E (O/L)

Tamil
Below grade 6

Grade 6-10

G.C.E. (A/L) & above

English

Educational Attainment Language Literacy

2020 2021 2022

As given in Table 11.3 the Computer literacy


among males (37.3%) is higher than that of
females (34.8%) in 2022. Young youths (aged 15 –
19 years) show the highest computer literacy rate
(74.8%) among all other age groups.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

The survey results reveal that higher the level of Among the unemployed, aged (25-29) group
education higher the computer literacy. The group shows highest computer literate population
with A/L or above level of education shows the percentage (78.4%) in 2022. Annual results reveal
highest computer literacy rate (77.8%). Also that among unemployed many have at least some
computer literacy is higher among those who are ICT skills. Even among the group aged 40-69
literate in English language (77.1%). every one out of three is computer literate (32.5%)
in 2022 (Table 11.5).
Table11.4: Computer literacy among computer
aware employed population (aged 15 – 69 years) by Table11.6: Computer literacy rate and Digital literacy
occupation, 2020 - 2022 rate by gender, sector and age groups – 2022
Computer literacy (%)
Occupation group Gender, Sector, Age Computer Digital
2020 2021 2022
group Literacy Literacy
Sri Lanka 65.2 66.3 68.5
Managers, Senior Officials Sri Lanka 36.0 60.0
78.3 86.0 87.2
and Legislators By Sex
Professionals 90.3 93.4 93.8 Male 37.3 62.3
Technicians and Associate Female 34.8 57.9
87.7 90.3 92.2
Professionals
Sector
Clerks and Clerical support
94.2 91.9 93.4 Urban 48.9 72.7
workers
Services and Sales workers 55.2 55.0 58.2 Rural 34.6 58.3
Skilled Agricultura1, Forestry Estate 11.5 41.0
21.9 21.2 24.8
and Fishery workers By Age group(years)
Craft and Related Trades
38.6 38.7 42.0 5-9 15.5 44.8
workers
Plant and Machine operators 10 - 14 49.0 74.0
39.7 37.7 40.8
and Assemblers 15 - 19 74.8 90.2
Elementary occupations 34.0 30.2 37.2 20 - 24 69.3 90.9
Armed Forces Occupations 25 - 29 59.3 87.1
80.2 85.1 70.3
& unidentified occupations
30 - 34 47.4 80.2
These figures are to be treated with caution as the
35 - 39 38.4 73.5
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
high. 40 - 49 25.7 57.0
50 - 59 14.8 33.7
Computer literacy among the employed 60 - 69 7.5 19.0
population who are aware of computer in Sri
Lanka is around 68.5% in 2022. The positions such When the digital literacy is considered 60.0%
as Senior officials and Managers (87.2%), (aged 5 -69) has digital literacy. Digital literacy is
Professionals (93.8%), Technical and Associate higher than computer literacy for all disaggregated
professionals (92.2%), Clerks and Clerical support levels, showing the drift from Personal Computer
workers (93.4%) have higher computer literacy to Smartphones/ Tablets (Table 11.6).
rates. Also, even among the individuals engage in
elementary occupations 37.2 percent are
computer literate in 2022. 11.3 Source of Computer Training
Table 11.7 shows that the majority of those who
Table 11.5: Computer literacy among unemployed
population (aged 15 – 69 years) by age groups, 2020 are computer literate have received training from
- 2022 School/University. The training received through
Government training centers are comparatively
Age Percentage of computer literate
low.
group population among unemployment (%)
(years) 2020 2021 2022
Sri Lanka 65.5 67.6 67.2
15 - 19 57.5 56.9 52.8
20 - 24 74.8 77.1 77.3
25 - 29 79.2 77.7 78.4
30 - 39 53.7 56.7 66.6
40 – 69 32.3 34.3 32.5

56
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 11.7: Percentage distribution of computer shows the highest usage of both e-mail and
literate household population (aged 5 – 69 years) by internet compared to other two sectors. Also
sources of receiving computer knowledge* and
persons in age group 20 - 24 indicate a higher
sector – 2022
internet and email usage compared to the persons
Source of receiving Total Residential sector (%) in other age groups.
computer knowledge (%) Urban Rural Estate
Figure 11.3:
Private training course 18.9 19.7 18.8 11.2 Percentage distribution of internet and e-mail
School/University 61.1 58.8 61.7 68.1 using household population (aged 5 – 69 years)
Govt. training centers 6.2 6.5 6.1 4.8
by age group – 2022
Employment activities 20.7 26.9 19.0 7.9
Work place 14.1 19.1 12.8 7.8 3.7%
60 - 69 12.7%
Family members 33.4 37.0 32.6 17.6
Friends/ Relatives 30.1 32.3 29.5 25.1 50 - 59 8.3%
24.6%
Self 45.2 53.5 42.9 38.9
Other 7.6 6.5 7.8 9.6 40 - 49 15.3%
44.8%
* Multiple choice answers
35 - 39 23.2%
These figures are to be treated with caution as 61.8%

Age group
the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values 30 - 34 29.6%
70.3%
are high.
25 - 29 38.8%
79.3%
11.4 Internet and E-mail use 43.6%
20 - 24
Table 11.8: Percentage distribution of Internet and 29.2%
15 - 19 77.8%
E-mail using household population (aged 5 – 69
years) by Sex, Sector and Age group, 2020 - 2022 5 - 14 5.1%
40.3%

Gender, Household Population (aged 5-69) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%


Sector, Rate
Age Internet (%) E-mail (%) Used e-mail Used internet
group 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022
(years) Table 11.9: Percentage distribution of device use to
Sri Lanka 36.0 44.5 48.3 14.0 17.8 17.6
connect to internet/ email household population* (aged
By Sex 5 – 69 years) by sex, sector and age groups – 2022
Male 39.9 47.9 51.0 16.0 19.7 19.4
Female 32.4 41.4 46.0 12.1 16.2 16.1 Device use to connect to internet/
By Sector Gender, email (%)
Total
Sector, Age
Urban 54.5 61.2 62.2 26.2 30.3 25.6
group
(%) Desktop Smart Tablet Mobile
Rural 33.3 42.0 46.6 12.0 16.0 16.6 / Laptop phone computer phone
Estate 13.9 26.0 27.1 2.7 4.4 5.3 Sri Lanka 100.0 18.4 79.3 1.6 0.7
By Age By Sex
Groups Male 100.0 18.9 78.6 1.7 0.8
5 - 14 19.7 39.7 40.3 2.8 7.2 5.1 Female 100.0 17.8 80.1 1.5 0.6
15 - 19 57.8 74.3 77.8 20.3 31.5 29.2 By Sector
20 - 24 74.3 80.0 83.1 38.4 43.2 43.6 Urban 100.0 24.2 72.4 2.6 0.8
25 - 29 67.5 74.1 79.3 32.3 37.5 38.8 Rural 100.0 17.0 81.0 1.4 0.7
30 - 34 57.6 65.1 70.3 23.8 29.5 29.6 Estate 100.0 3.7 95.0 0.8 0.5
35 - 39 46.1 54.8 61.8 17.4 21.3 23.2 By Age
40 - 49 32.8 38.9 44.8 12.3 14.5 15.3 group(years)
5-9 100.0 12.1 86.0 1.2 0.7
50 - 59 18.5 20.9 24.6 7.3 8.8 8.3
10 - 14 100.0 16.9 80.6 2.1 0.5
60 - 69 8.6 9.4 12.7 3.1 3.3 3.7
15 - 19 100.0 18.4 79.5 1.4 0.7
20 - 24 100.0 21.6 75.8 1.7 1.0
The Table 11.8 depicts that 48.3 percent of the 25 - 29 100.0 21.6 76.2 1.5 0.7
population aged 5 to 69 years use the internet 30 - 34 100.0 19.0 78.3 1.9 0.8
facility at least once during twelve months in 2022 35 - 39 100.0 17.5 80.4 1.2 0.8
and 17.6 percent of the household population 40 - 49 100.0 17.0 80.9 1.6 0.5
50 - 59 100.0 16.7 81.4 1.3 0.6
aged 5 – 69 years have used E–mail facility at least
60 - 69 100.0 15.6 80.8 2.7 0.9
once during the last 12 months period in 2022. * Multiple choice answers
The survey results further reveal that in the Urban These figures are to be treated with caution as the
corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
sector, where the facilities are largely available,
high.

- 57 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
Table 1 - Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population,15 years of age and
over - Both sexes
Household Labour force Not in
population Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Year (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force partici: Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
2015 15,281,945 8,214,473 53.8 7,830,976 95.3 383,496 4.7 7,067,473
2016 15,448,679 8,310,682 53.8 7,947,683 95.6 362,999 4.4 7,137,997
2017 15,843,735 8,566,686 54.1 8,208,179 95.8 358,507 4.2 7,277,049
2018 16,196,232 8,387,759 51.8 8,015,166 95.6 372,593 4.4 7,808,473
2019 16,424,016 8,592,010 52.3 8,180,693 95.2 411,318 4.8 7,832,006
2020 16,739,396 8,466,606 50.6 7,999,093 94.5 467,513 5.5 8,272,790
2021 17,133,659 8,553,290 49.9 8,113,507 94.9 439,783 5.1 8,580,369
2022 17,161,973 8,547,062 49.8 8,147,731 95.3 399,332 4.7 8,614,911

Table 1A - Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and
over - Male
Household Labour force Not in
population Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Year (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force number Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
2015 7,036,944 5,255,593 74.7 5,097,798 97.0 157,794 3.0 1,781,352
2016 7,064,736 5,303,502 75.1 5,149,948 97.1 153,554 2.9 1,761,234
2017 7,292,047 5,434,510 74.5 5,279,158 97.1 155,352 2.9 1,857,537
2018 7,488,320 5,464,236 73.0 5,300,310 97.0 163,926 3.0 2,024,084
2019 7,610,113 5,554,192 73.0 5,368,896 96.7 185,296 3.3 2,055,920
2020 7,788,634 5,598,004 71.9 5,372,947 96.0 225,057 4.0 2,190,629
2021 7,915,659 5,621,223 71.0 5,414,280 96.3 206,943 3.7 2,294,436
2022 7,914,636 5,580,786 70.5 5,373,965 96.3 206,822 3.7 2,333,850

Table 1B - Historical table of labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and
over - Female
Household Labour force Not in
population Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Year (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force partici: Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
2015 8,245,001 2,958,880 35.9 2,733,178 92.4 225,702 7.6 5,286,121
2016 8,383,943 3,007,180 35.9 2,797,735 93.0 209,445 7.0 5,376,764
2017 8,551,688 3,132,176 36.6 2,929,021 93.5 203,155 6.5 5,419,512
2018 8,707,912 2,923,523 33.6 2,714,855 92.9 208,667 7.1 5,784,390
2019 8,813,903 3,037,818 34.5 2,811,796 92.6 226,022 7.4 5,776,085
2020 8,950,763 2,868,602 32.0 2,626,146 91.5 242,456 8.5 6,082,161
2021 9,218,000 2,932,067 31.8 2,699,228 92.1 232,840 7.9 6,285,933
2022 9,247,337 2,966,276 32.1 2,773,766 93.5 192,510 6.5 6,281,061

58
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 2 - Labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age - Both
sexes

Household Labour force Not in


pop: Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Age (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force partici: Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
All ages 17,161,973 8,547,062 49.8 8,147,731 95.3 399,332 4.7 8,614,911
15 - 19 Yrs 1,826,046 141,147 7.7 102,692 72.8 38,456 27.2 1,684,899
20 - 24 Yrs 1,418,448 681,255 48.0 532,876 78.2 148,378 21.8 737,194
25 - 29 Yrs 1,245,757 834,673 67.0 737,356 88.3 97,317 11.7 411,085
30 - 39 Yrs 2,681,342 1,798,338 67.1 1,741,901 96.9 56,437 3.1 883,004
40 + Yrs 9,990,379 5,091,649 51.0 5,032,906 98.8 58,743 1.2 4,898,730

Table 2A - Labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age - Male

Household Labour force Not in


pop: Total labour Employed Unemployed labour
Age (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force partici: Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
All ages 7,914,636 5,580,786 70.5 5,373,965 96.3 206,822 3.7 2,333,850
15 - 19 Yrs 900,586 98,566 10.9 71,877 72.9 26,690 27.1 802,019
20 - 24 Yrs 676,279 425,738 63.0 345,211 81.1 80,527 18.9 250,541
25 - 29 Yrs 593,709 533,496 89.9 489,578 91.8 43,918 8.2 60,214
30 - 39 Yrs 1,211,863 1,162,619 95.9 1,137,616 97.8 25,003 2.2 49,244
40 + Yrs 4,532,199 3,360,367 74.1 3,329,683 99.1 30,685 0.9 1,171,832

Table 2B - Labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age -
Female

Household Labour force Not in


pop: Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Age (15 years labour force Rate Rate force
& over) force partici: Number (% to total Number (% to total number
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
All ages 9,247,337 2,966,276 32.1 2,773,766 93.5 192,510 6.5 6,281,061
15 - 19 Yrs 925,461 42,581 4.6 30,815 72.4 11,766 27.6 882,880
20 - 24 Yrs 742,169 255,517 34.4 187,666 73.4 67,851 26.6 486,652
25 - 29 Yrs 652,048 301,177 46.2 247,778 82.3 53,399 17.7 350,871
30 - 39 Yrs 1,469,479 635,719 43.3 604,284 95.1 31,435 4.9 833,760
40 + Yrs 5,458,180 1,731,282 31.7 1,703,224 98.4 28,058 1.6 3,726,898

- 59 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 3 - Historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) - Both sexes

Age groups
Year All ages 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40+
Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs
2015 100.0 2.2 7.5 9.7 24.5 56.1
2016 100.0 2.0 7.3 9.5 24.2 57.0
2017 100.0 2.1 7.6 9.2 23.4 57.7
2018 100.0 1.8 7.2 9.0 22.6 59.4
2019 100.0 1.9 7.1 9.3 22.6 59.1
2020 100.0 1.7 6.8 9.2 22.0 60.2
2021 100.0 1.4 6.3 9.4 21.1 61.8
2022 100.0 1.3 6.5 9.0 21.4 61.8

Table 3A - Historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) - Male

Age groups
Year All ages 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40+
Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs
2015 100.0 2.3 7.3 9.7 24.4 56.2
2016 100.0 2.2 7.3 9.4 24.2 56.9
2017 100.0 2.3 7.5 9.4 23.5 57.3
2018 100.0 2.0 7.3 9.4 22.6 58.7
2019 100.0 2.1 7.2 9.4 22.3 59.0
2020 100.0 1.9 7.0 9.1 21.8 60.3
2021 100.0 1.6 6.4 9.4 20.5 62.0
2022 100.0 1.3 6.4 9.1 21.2 62.0

Table 3B - historical table of currently employed persons by age groups (percentage) - Female

Age groups
Year All ages 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40+
Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs Yrs
2015 100.0 2.1 7.8 9.6 24.7 55.9
2016 100.0 1.6 7.2 9.6 24.3 57.3
2017 100.0 1.7 7.8 9.0 23.2 58.3
2018 100.0 1.4 6.9 8.3 22.7 60.7
2019 100.0 1.4 7.0 9.1 23.1 59.4
2020 100.0 1.4 6.5 9.3 22.6 60.1
2021 100.0 1.1 6.0 9.3 22.3 61.4
2022 100.0 1.1 6.8 8.9 21.8 61.4

60
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 4 - Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) - Both sexes

Level of education
Year Total Grade 5 & Grades GCE (O.L)/ GCE (A.L)/
below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & above
2015 100.0 16.7 47.4 17.3 18.6
2016 100.0 16.2 47.4 16.3 20.1
2017 100.0 15.8 46.1 17.3 20.8
2018 100.0 14.9 45.9 18.1 21.2
2019 100.0 14.0 45.8 17.4 22.8
2020 100.0 13.7 46.0 17.8 22.5
2021 100.0 13.0 45.7 17.6 23.8
2022 100.0 12.7 45.1 17.6 24.6

Table 4A - Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) - Male

Level of education
Year Total Grade 5 & Grades GCE (O.L)/ GCE (A.L)/
below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & above
2015 100.0 16.7 51.1 17.7 14.6
2016 100.0 16.1 51.1 16.7 16.1
2017 100.0 15.7 49.8 17.6 16.9
2018 100.0 14.7 49.7 18.8 16.7
2019 100.0 14.1 49.6 18.0 18.2
2020 100.0 13.8 49.8 18.3 18.1
2021 100.0 13.0 49.6 18.6 18.8
2022 100.0 13.0 49.1 18.5 19.4

Table 4B - Historical table of currently employed persons by level of education (percentage) - Female

Level of education
Year Total Grade 5 & Grades GCE (O.L)/ GCE (A.L)/
below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & above
2015 100.0 16.6 40.4 16.7 26.3
2016 100.0 16.3 40.6 15.6 27.5
2017 100.0 16.1 39.4 16.8 27.7
2018 100.0 15.2 38.4 16.5 29.9
2019 100.0 13.8 38.4 16.3 31.6
2020 100.0 13.4 38.1 16.8 31.7
2021 100.0 12.8 37.8 15.5 33.8
2022 100.0 12.0 37.2 16.1 34.7

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 5 - Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) - Both sexes

Employee Own Unpaid


Total
Year Employer account family
employed Total Public Private worker worker

2015 100.0 56.1 15.1 41.0 3.1 32.3 8.4


2016 100.0 57.8 14.6 43.3 2.7 31.6 7.8
2017 100.0 57.7 14.4 43.3 3.0 31.3 8.0
2018 100.0 57.8 14.5 43.3 2.8 32.3 7.2
2019 100.0 57.9 14.9 43.0 2.6 32.5 7.0
2020 100.0 57.5 14.8 42.7 2.5 33.2 6.8
2021 100.0 57.3 15.2 42.0 2.7 33.4 6.6
2022 100.0 58.0 15.1 42.9 2.9 33.1 5.9

Table 5A - Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) - Male

Employee Own Unpaid


Total
Year Employer account family
employed Total Public Private worker worker

2015 100.0 56.7 12.8 43.9 4.2 36.3 2.8


2016 100.0 58.9 12.4 46.4 3.7 34.7 2.7
2017 100.0 58.8 12.3 46.4 4.1 34.5 2.6
2018 100.0 57.8 12.0 45.8 3.7 36.0 2.5
2019 100.0 57.7 12.2 45.5 3.5 36.5 2.3
2020 100.0 56.7 12.0 44.7 3.4 37.5 2.4
2021 100.0 56.6 12.1 44.4 3.7 37.3 2.4
2022 100.0 57.0 11.9 45.1 3.9 37.2 2.0

Table 5B - Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) - Female

Employee Own Unpaid


Total
Year Employer account family
employed Total Public Private worker worker

2015 100.0 55.1 19.3 35.8 1.1 24.9 18.8


2016 100.0 55.9 18.5 37.4 0.9 25.9 17.2
2017 100.0 55.7 18.0 37.7 1.1 25.6 17.7
2018 100.0 57.8 19.3 38.5 1.0 24.9 16.3
2019 100.0 58.3 19.9 38.4 0.8 24.8 16.1
2020 100.0 59.0 20.5 38.5 0.8 24.4 15.8
2021 100.0 58.7 21.5 37.2 0.8 25.4 15.2
2022 100.0 60.0 21.3 38.7 1.0 25.4 13.6

62
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 6 - currently employed person by industry group (based on ISIC fourth revision) - Both sexes

Industry group
Year Total
1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 Other
2018 8,015,166 2,043,698 62,136 1,463,919 713,207 1,141,416 502,126 238,145 55,220 173,330 86,286 166,978 434,348 425,092 142,861 116,733 194,303 55,368
2019 8,180,693 2,071,940 60,902 1,504,314 693,205 1,134,496 514,469 232,344 64,382 187,933 90,317 205,009 436,175 425,931 169,232 135,247 186,970 67,828
2020 7,999,093 2,169,679 56,856 1,397,689 698,201 1,095,384 523,654 217,281 57,828 183,474 85,990 164,829 447,051 402,808 156,424 123,220 167,255 51,470
2021 8,113,507 2,213,015 54,586 1,362,311 692,585 1,153,516 481,703 214,497 72,881 182,313 80,762 136,073 490,106 423,135 174,539 128,418 201,726 51,342
2022 8,147,731 2,158,559 58,979 1,408,819 690,401 1,142,754 486,346 235,544 71,054 182,379 87,337 146,494 456,844 461,829 169,298 162,099 157,590 71,404

Note: These Industry groups are based on ISIC - Rev. 4


1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) Other
2 Mining & quarrying (B) 12 Real estate activities (L)
3 Manufacturing (C) 18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
6 Construction, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, water supply, sewerage, waste 21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)
management and remediation activities (D,E,F)
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
8 Transportation and storage (H)
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I)
10 Information and communication (J)
11 Financial and insurance activities (K)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N)
15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
16 Education (P)
17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
19 Other service activities (S)
20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services - producing activities
of households for own use (T)

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 6A- currently employed person by industry group (based on ISIC fourth revision) - Male
Industry group
Year Total
1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 Other
2018 5,300,310 1,270,968 59,514 785,112 688,318 835,444 483,618 153,022 38,942 92,422 53,152 118,324 286,200 135,153 52,200 83,418 119,488 45,016
2019 5,368,896 1,333,249 59,244 784,687 665,725 800,488 497,102 145,858 46,255 105,999 59,418 149,307 278,608 131,014 61,889 93,078 101,972 55,004
2020 5,372,947 1,404,424 54,650 769,527 670,928 800,735 504,586 143,909 43,545 108,800 55,021 119,004 284,605 120,956 58,231 94,149 101,098 38,778
2021 5,414,280 1,423,619 53,512 775,837 663,925 834,545 465,940 136,349 51,631 108,793 49,777 96,394 290,754 127,846 63,616 96,710 134,475 40,557
2022 5,373,965 1,422,010 58,657 758,623 658,525 831,372 466,203 141,812 48,341 100,235 55,248 104,400 271,425 139,674 61,720 123,033 79,292 53,396

Table 6B - Currently employed person by industry group (based on ISIC fourth revision) - Female
Industry Group
Year Total
1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 Other
2018 2,714,855 772,730 2,622 678,808 24,888 305,972 18,507 85,123 16,278 80,908 33,134 48,654 148,149 289,939 90,661 33,314 74,815 10,352
2019 2,811,796 738,692 1,658 719,627 27,479 334,008 17,368 86,486 18,126 81,934 30,899 55,701 157,567 294,916 107,344 42,169 84,998 12,825
2020 2,626,146 765,256 2,206 628,162 27,273 294,649 19,068 73,372 14,282 74,674 30,969 45,826 162,446 281,852 98,193 29,071 66,157 12,692
2021 2,699,228 789,396 1,074 586,474 28,660 318,971 15,763 78,147 21,250 73,519 30,985 39,679 199,352 295,289 110,923 31,708 67,251 10,785
2022 2,773,766 736,549 322 650,196 31,877 311,382 20,144 93,732 22,712 82,144 32,089 42,094 185,419 322,155 107,578 39,066 78,298 18,009
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Note: These Industry groups are based on ISIC - Rev. 4
1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) Other
2 Mining & quarrying (B) 12 Real estate activities (L)
3 Manufacturing (C) 18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
6 Construction, Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water supply, sewerage, waste management 21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)
and remediation activities (D, E,F)
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
8 Transportation and storage (H)
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I)
10 Information and communication (J)
11 Financial and insurance activities (K)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N)
15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
16 Education (P)
17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
19 Other service activities (S)
20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services - producing activities
of households for own use (T)
Other

64
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 6C - Historical table of currently employed population by major industry group - Both sexes

Major industry Year


group 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 8,015,166 8,180,693 7,999,093 8,113,507 8,147,731
Agriculture 2,043,698 2,071,940 2,169,679 2,213,015 2,158,559
Industry 2,239,262 2,258,421 2,152,746 2,109,482 2,158,199
Services 3,732,206 3,850,332 3,676,668 3,791,011 3,830,973

Table 6D - Historical table of currently employed population by major industry group (percentage) - Both
sexes

Major industry Year


group 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Agriculture 25.5 25.3 27.1 27.3 26.5
Industry 27.9 27.6 26.9 26.0 26.5
Services 46.6 47.1 46.0 46.7 47.0

Note: These Industry groups are based on ISIC - Rev. 4

Agriculture
1. Agriculture forestry and fishery (A)
Industries
1. Mining & quarrying (B)
2. Manufacturing (C)
3. Construction, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, water supply, sewerage,
waste management and remediation activities (D, E,F)
Services
1. Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
2. Transportation and storage (H)
3. Accommodation and food services activities (I)
4. Information and communication (J)
5. Financial and insurance activities (K)
6. Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
7. Administrative and support service activities (N)
8. Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
9. Education (P)
10. Human health and social work activities (Q)
11. Other service activities (S)
12. Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services - producing activities of
households for own use (T)
13. Real estate activities (L) Arts, entertainment and recreation ( R) Activities of extra territorial
organizations & bodies (U)

- 65 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 7 - Currently employed person by occupation group (Based on ISCO 08) - Both sexes

Occupation group
Year Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

2018 8,015,166 619,312 558,574 662,323 286,493 701,676 1,308,806 1,297,912 706,185 1,836,250 37,635

2019 8,180,693 622,467 609,084 741,805 308,894 707,967 1,375,540 1,307,767 714,546 1,757,807 34,816

2020 7,999,093 512,087 531,298 695,206 306,448 756,851 1,373,582 1,222,380 729,394 1,833,523 38,325

2021 8,113,507 324,769 576,124 681,988 282,448 947,824 1,308,645 1,142,171 816,954 2,000,483 32,101

2022 8,147,731 340,894 596,432 688,341 296,177 901,590 1,310,662 1,173,642 786,507 2,007,366 46,120

Occupation group
1 Managers, senior officials and legislators 6 Skilled agriculture forestry and fishery workers

2 Professionals 7 Craft and related trades workers

3 Technicians and associate professionals 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers

4 Clerks and clerical support workers 9 Elementary occupations

5 Services and sales workers 0 Armed forces occupations & unidentified occupations

66
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 7A - Currently employed person by occupation group (Based on ISCO 08) - Male

Occupation group
Year Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
2018 5,300,310 458,466 195,476 441,897 141,871 504,461 882,375 891,693 607,346 1,145,178 31,548
2019 5,368,896 453,211 228,884 477,666 148,506 494,410 943,543 892,716 619,409 1,080,828 29,724
2020 5,372,947 373,757 191,282 452,640 140,458 540,840 984,507 883,796 617,644 1,154,222 33,801
2021 5,414,280 261,533 211,883 440,246 133,690 639,288 981,016 843,075 644,676 1,228,363 30,511
2022 5,373,965 264,794 215,652 437,218 141,818 606,381 956,970 835,321 622,142 1,252,138 41,531

Table 7B - Currently employed person by occupation group (Based on ISCO 08) - Female

Occupation group
Year Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
2018 2,714,855 160,846 363,098 220,426 144,622 197,215 426,431 406,219 98,839 691,072 6,088
2019 2,811,796 169,256 380,200 264,139 160,388 213,557 431,997 415,051 95,138 676,978 5,092
2020 2,626,146 138,329 340,016 242,566 165,990 216,011 389,075 338,584 111,750 679,301 4,524
2021 2,699,228 63,236 364,242 241,742 148,758 308,536 327,629 299,096 172,278 772,120 1,590
2022 2,773,766 76,101 380,779 251,123 154,359 295,209 353,692 338,321 164,364 755,227 4,589

These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Occupation group
1 Managers, senior officials and legislators 6 Skilled agriculture forestry and fishery workers
2 Professionals 7 Craft and related trades workers
3 Technicians and associate professionals 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers
4 Clerks and clerical support workers 9 Elementary occupations
5 Services and sales workers 0 Armed forces occupations & unidentified occupations

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 8 - Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job and major industrial group (percentage) - Both sexes

Major industrial group Total 0* 1-9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 & Over

Total 100.0 5.8 2.1 6.0 10.5 15.4 32.4 27.8


1 100.0 5.3 4.2 10.4 17.9 20.2 26.2 15.8
2 100.0 14.6 .. 5.3 5.3 15.2 21.5 38.0
3 100.0 5.7 1.8 4.9 7.9 11.6 35.8 32.4
6 100.0 12.2 1.9 6.4 13.1 15.6 31.4 19.3
7 100.0 3.6 0.7 2.6 6.0 10.5 28.7 47.9
8 100.0 6.6 1.3 6.1 8.6 12.0 29.5 35.9
9 100.0 7.7 1.5 4.3 8.4 12.3 23.4 42.5
10 100.0 3.8 1.3 1.0 3.0 7.7 46.7 36.4
11 100.0 1.7 0.2 1.2 2.5 7.2 64.2 23.0
13 100.0 3.7 0.7 3.9 6.1 11.1 46.8 27.7
14 100.0 7.7 1.9 4.4 5.7 8.3 35.0 36.9
15 100.0 1.9 0.4 1.3 3.2 5.1 59.4 28.8
16 100.0 5.9 1.7 5.3 9.9 44.0 26.7 6.6
17 100.0 3.8 1.1 1.6 2.7 5.7 41.3 43.9
19 100.0 6.4 2.2 8.3 12.9 13.4 29.7 27.2
20 100.0 8.9 2.2 7.9 13.8 15.2 23.0 28.9
Other 100.0 4.2 3.1 6.2 9.5 12.6 37.9 26.6
* Has a job but not at work during the reference week .. Net reported
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Industry group
1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) 17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
2 Mining & quarrying (B) 19 Other service activities (S)
3 Manufacturing (C) 20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and
6 Construction, Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water services - producing activities of households for own use (T)
supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (D, E,F) Other
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
8 Transportation and storage (H) Other
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I) 12 Real estate activities (L)
10 Information and communication (J) 18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
11 Financial and insurance activities (K) 21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N)
15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
16 Education (P)

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 9 - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (Percentage) - Both sexes

Age groups
Year Total
15 – 19 Yrs 20 – 24 Yrs 25 – 29 Yrs 30 – 39 Yrs 40 + Yrs
2015 100.0 14.5 37.4 20.5 15.8 11.8
2016 100.0 16.1 39.7 21.1 13.2 9.8
2017 100.0 12.8 37.7 22.2 14.8 12.4
2018 100.0 14.1 38.9 22.5 15.0 9.5
2019 100.0 13.0 36.0 22.8 14.3 13.8
2020 100.0 13.5 39.3 21.5 13.8 12.0
2021 100.0 8.9 42.5 22.2 15.2 11.1
2022 100.0 9.6 37.2 24.4 14.1 14.7

Table 9A - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (Percentage) - Male

Age groups
Year Total
15 – 19 Yrs 20 – 24 Yrs 25 – 29 Yrs 30 – 39 Yrs 40 + Yrs
2015 100.0 21.7 39.9 14.6 12.6 11.2
2016 100.0 23.0 42.8 16.9 7.7 9.6
2017 100.0 18.1 40.3 19.7 10.8 11.1
2018 100.0 20.5 40.9 17.5 10.7 10.5
2019 100.0 18.3 38.9 19.5 8.3 15.0
2020 100.0 18.8 41.0 18.6 11.9 9.7
2021 100.0 12.3 45.0 20.0 12.1 10.6
2022 100.0 12.9 38.9 21.2 12.1 14.8

Table 9B - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by age groups (Percentage) - Female

Age groups
Year Total
15 – 19 Yrs 20 – 24 Yrs 25 – 29 Yrs 30 – 39 Yrs 40 + Yrs
2015 100.0 9.4 35.6 24.6 18.1 12.2
2016 100.0 11.1 37.5 24.2 17.2 10.0
2017 100.0 8.8 35.7 24.2 17.9 13.5
2018 100.0 9.1 37.3 26.5 18.4 8.7
2019 100.0 8.7 33.6 25.5 19.3 12.9
2020 100.0 8.5 37.7 24.1 15.6 14.1
2021 100.0 5.8 40.3 24.2 18.0 11.6
2022 100.0 6.1 35.2 27.7 16.3 14.6

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 10 - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (Percentage) - Both sexes

Level of education
Year Total Grade 5 & Grades GCE(O/L) GCE(A/L)
below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & Above
2015 100.0 2.5 34.4 24.4 38.7
2016 100.0 2.7 35.4 22.1 39.8
2017 100.0 3.1 30.3 24.7 41.9
2018 100.0 2.2 30.5 21.4 45.8
2019 100.0 2.9 31.4 23.9 41.9
2020 100.0 2.2 32.6 23.5 41.7
2021 100.0 1.4 29.6 24.9 44.1
2022 100.0 1.8 32.1 23.6 42.6

Table 10A - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (Percentage) - Male

Level of education
Year Grade 5 & Grades GCE(O/L) GCE(A/L)
Total
Below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & Above

2015 100.0 1.7 44.1 30.9 23.4


2016 100.0 1.5 48.2 23.9 26.4
2017 100.0 2.0 37.5 30.0 30.5
2018 100.0 3.1 43.1 25.0 28.9
2019 100.0 2.9 42.2 27.0 28.0
2020 100.0 2.3 41.5 27.7 28.5
2021 100.0 1.8 36.0 29.9 32.3
2022 100.0 2.2 40.1 28.0 29.6

Table 10 B - Historical table of currently unemployed persons by level of education (Percentage) - Female

Level of education
Year Total GRADE 5 & GRADES GCE(O/L) GCE(A/L)
Below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE & ABOVE
2015 100.0 3.0 27.7 19.9 49.4
2016 100.0 3.6 26.0 20.8 49.6
2017 100.0 3.9 24.8 20.7 50.7
2018 100.0 1.5 20.6 18.7 59.2
2019 100.0 2.9 22.5 21.4 53.3
2020 100.0 2.2 24.2 19.7 53.9
2021 100.0 1.0 23.9 20.5 54.6
2022 100.0 1.3 23.5 18.8 56.4
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 11 - Currently unemployed persons by sex and duration of


unemployment

Duration

Sex Total 6 to
Less than
less than 12+ months
6 months
12 months

Both
399,332 162,232 110,095 127,004
sexes
% 100.0 40.6 27.6 31.8
Male 206,822 97,172 57,173 52,477
% 100.0 47.0 27.6 25.4
Female 192,510 65,061 52,922 74,527
% 100.0 33.8 27.5 38.7

Table 12 - Labour force status (Current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district -
Both sexes

Labour force
Employed Unemployed
Household Not in
population labour Rate Rate labour
District Total
(15 years & force (% to (% to force
labour
over) partici: Number total Number total Number
force
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
Total 17,161,973 8,547,062 49.8 8,147,731 95.3 399,332 4.7 8,614,911
Colombo 1,935,561 970,852 50.2 921,308 94.9 49,544 5.1 964,709
Gampaha 1,947,283 965,497 49.6 921,945 95.5 43,552 4.5 981,785
Kalutara 1,022,338 507,487 49.6 480,039 94.6 27,448 5.4 514,850
Kandy 1,149,504 555,857 48.4 518,379 93.3 37,478 6.7 593,647
Matale 406,028 215,832 53.2 203,699 94.4 12,132 5.6 190,197
Nuwara Eliya 611,413 353,000 57.7 337,956 95.7 15,044 4.3 258,413
Galle 894,544 452,140 50.5 426,536 94.3 25,604 5.7 442,403
Matara 686,406 313,773 45.7 297,350 94.8 16,423 5.2 372,634
Hambantota 517,733 255,720 49.4 238,012 93.1 17,708 6.9 262,013
Jaffna 505,043 206,207 40.8 194,496 94.3 11,710 5.7 298,836
Mannar 87,641 52,727 60.2 51,303 97.3 1,424 2.7 34,914
Vavunia 141,049 65,972 46.8 64,561 97.9 1,410 2.1 75,077
Mullativu 76,330 36,679 48.1 35,834 97.7 845 2.3 39,652
Kilinochchci 98,314 42,810 43.5 40,919 95.6 1,891 4.4 55,504
Batticaloa 436,238 176,449 40.4 169,045 95.8 7,405 4.2 259,789
Ampara 559,112 222,806 39.8 213,307 95.7 9,499 4.3 336,306
Trincomalee 315,287 132,614 42.1 129,025 97.3 3,589 2.7 182,673
Kurunegala 1,337,689 707,893 52.9 680,371 96.1 27,522 3.9 629,796
Puttalam 665,819 344,685 51.8 332,762 96.5 11,923 3.5 321,134
Anuradhapura 692,432 367,175 53.0 352,145 95.9 15,030 4.1 325,257
Polonnaruwa 347,899 158,669 45.6 154,064 97.1 4,605 2.9 189,230
Badulla 691,617 352,105 50.9 335,753 95.4 16,352 4.6 339,512
Moneragala 381,902 209,816 54.9 201,657 96.1 8,159 3.9 172,086
Ratnapura 937,034 523,556 55.9 505,016 96.5 18,540 3.5 413,479
Kegalle 717,758 356,743 49.7 342,247 95.9 14,495 4.1 361,015
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are
high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 12A - Labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district -
Male

Labour force
Employed Unemployed
Household Not in
population labour Rate Rate labour
District Total
(15 years & force (% to (% to force
labour
over) partici: Number total Number total Number
force
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)
Total 7,914,636 5,580,786 70.5 5,373,965 96.3 206,822 3.7 2,333,850
Colombo 900,200 631,215 70.1 602,722 95.5 28,493 4.5 268,985
Gampaha 891,827 616,493 69.1 595,268 96.6 21,225 3.4 275,334
Kalutara 476,323 329,277 69.1 314,310 95.5 14,967 4.5 147,046
Kandy 499,521 339,197 67.9 320,981 94.6 18,216 5.4 160,324
Matale 183,451 134,165 73.1 128,608 95.9 5,557 4.1 49,286
Nuwara Eliya 287,690 204,818 71.2 195,807 95.6 9,011 4.4 82,872
Galle 416,253 281,494 67.6 268,589 95.4 12,905 4.6 134,760
Matara 320,055 210,507 65.8 203,369 96.6 7,139 3.4 109,547
Hambantota 245,344 175,783 71.6 166,319 94.6 9,464 5.4 69,560
Jaffna 233,401 153,690 65.8 150,270 97.8 3,419 2.2 79,711
Mannar 42,421 32,859 77.5 32,438 98.7 422 1.3 9,562
Vavunia 62,303 46,134 74.0 45,130 97.8 1,005 2.2 16,169
Mullativu 36,213 26,248 72.5 25,799 98.3 449 1.7 9,965
Kilinochchi 44,760 30,576 68.3 29,791 97.4 784 2.6 14,185
Batticaloa 193,363 133,160 68.9 129,980 97.6 3,180 2.4 60,203
Ampara 264,570 172,304 65.1 167,425 97.2 4,879 2.8 92,267
Trincomalee 144,249 102,493 71.1 100,169 97.7 2,324 2.3 41,757
Kurunegala 613,804 451,436 73.5 436,491 96.7 14,946 3.3 162,368
Puttalam 312,308 234,752 75.2 229,213 97.6 5,539 2.4 77,556
Anuradhapura 309,930 232,418 75.0 224,237 96.5 8,181 3.5 77,512
Polonnaruwa 159,745 116,901 73.2 114,445 97.9 2,456 2.1 42,844
Badulla 314,915 221,417 70.3 213,058 96.2 8,359 3.8 93,498
Moneragala 188,203 145,311 77.2 140,378 96.6 4,933 3.4 42,893
Ratnapura 444,735 335,887 75.5 325,703 97.0 10,184 3.0 108,848
Kegalle 329,049 222,250 67.5 213,463 96.0 8,786 4.0 106,799

These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 12B - labour force status (current) of the household population, 15 years of age and over by district –
Female

Labour force
Employed Unemployed
Household Not in
population labour Rate Rate labour
District Total
(15 years & force (% to (% to force
labour
over) partici: Number total Number total Number
force
rate(%) labour labour
force) force)

Total 9,247,337 2,966,276 32.1 2,773,766 93.5 192,510 6.5 6,281,061

Colombo 1,035,361 339,637 32.8 318,586 93.8 21,052 6.2 695,724


Gampaha 1,055,456 349,005 33.1 326,677 93.6 22,328 6.4 706,451
Kalutara 546,014 178,210 32.6 165,729 93.0 12,481 7.0 367,804
Kandy 649,983 216,660 33.3 197,398 91.1 19,262 8.9 433,323
Matale 222,577 81,667 36.7 75,091 91.9 6,575 8.1 140,910
Nuwara Eliya 323,723 148,182 45.8 142,149 95.9 6,033 4.1 175,541
Galle 478,291 170,647 35.7 157,947 92.6 12,700 7.4 307,644
Matara 366,352 103,265 28.2 93,982 91.0 9,284 9.0 263,087
Hambantota 272,389 79,936 29.3 71,692 89.7 8,244 10.3 192,453
Jaffna 271,642 52,517 19.3 44,226 84.2 8,291 15.8 219,125
Mannar 45,220 19,867 43.9 18,865 95.0 1,003 5.0 25,352
Vavunia 78,745 19,837 25.2 19,431 98.0 406 2.0 58,908
Mullativu 40,117 10,431 26.0 10,035 96.2 395 3.8 29,686
Kilinochchi 53,553 12,234 22.8 11,128 91.0 1,106 9.0 41,319
Batticaloa 242,875 43,289 17.8 39,064 90.2 4,224 9.8 199,586
Ampara 294,541 50,502 17.1 45,883 90.9 4,619 9.1 244,039
Trincomalee 171,038 30,121 17.6 28,856 95.8 1,265 4.2 140,916
Kurunegala 723,884 256,456 35.4 243,880 95.1 12,576 4.9 467,428
Puttalam 353,511 109,932 31.1 103,549 94.2 6,384 5.8 243,578
Anuradhapura 382,502 134,757 35.2 127,908 94.9 6,849 5.1 247,745
Polonnaruwa 188,154 41,768 22.2 39,619 94.9 2,149 5.1 146,386
Badulla 376,702 130,688 34.7 122,695 93.9 7,993 6.1 246,014
Moneragala 193,699 64,506 33.3 61,279 95.0 3,226 5.0 129,193
Ratnapura 492,299 187,668 38.1 179,312 95.5 8,356 4.5 304,631
Kegalle 388,709 134,493 34.6 128,784 95.8 5,709 4.2 254,216

These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 13 - Employment by major industry group by districts - Both sexes

Total Agriculture Industry Services


District
No % No % No % No %
Total 8,147,731 100.0 2,158,559 26.5 2,158,199 26.5 3,830,973 47.0
Colombo 921,308 100.0 16,019 1.7 238,135 25.8 667,154 72.4
Gampaha 921,945 100.0 39,806 4.3 338,328 36.7 543,811 59.0
Kalutara 480,039 100.0 86,142 17.9 158,179 33.0 235,718 49.1
Kandy 518,379 100.0 108,699 21.0 132,803 25.6 276,877 53.4
Matale 203,699 100.0 50,137 24.6 44,170 21.7 109,392 53.7
Nuwara Eliya 337,956 100.0 196,134 58.0 48,315 14.3 93,507 27.7
Galle 426,536 100.0 125,301 29.4 113,467 26.6 187,769 44.0
Matara 297,350 100.0 102,702 34.5 60,742 20.4 133,906 45.0
Hambantota 238,012 100.0 79,667 33.5 59,795 25.1 98,550 41.4
Jaffna 194,496 100.0 41,319 21.2 51,807 26.6 101,370 52.1
Mannar 51,303 100.0 27,086 52.8 8,732 17.0 15,485 30.2
Vavuniya 64,561 100.0 17,873 27.7 16,126 25.0 30,562 47.3
Mullaitivu 35,834 100.0 16,562 46.2 7,394 20.6 11,879 33.2
Kilinochchi 40,919 100.0 14,572 35.6 12,044 29.4 14,303 35.0
Batticaloa 169,045 100.0 54,051 32.0 40,276 23.8 74,717 44.2
Ampara 213,307 100.0 65,427 30.7 52,714 24.7 95,166 44.6
Trincomalee 129,025 100.0 38,942 30.2 26,165 20.3 63,918 49.5
Kurunegala 680,371 100.0 185,162 27.2 211,233 31.0 283,976 41.7
Puttalam 332,762 100.0 82,610 24.8 110,566 33.2 139,586 41.9
Anuradhapura 352,145 100.0 182,881 51.9 58,137 16.5 111,128 31.6
Polonnaruwa 154,064 100.0 63,666 41.3 28,743 18.7 61,656 40.0
Badulla 335,753 100.0 172,370 51.3 56,333 16.8 107,051 31.9
Monaragala 201,657 100.0 103,600 51.4 37,266 18.5 60,791 30.1
Rathnapura 505,016 100.0 208,641 41.3 142,213 28.2 154,162 30.5
Kegalle 342,247 100.0 79,191 23.1 104,516 30.5 158,541 46.3

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 13A - Employment by major industry group by districts – Male

Total Agriculture Industry Services


District
No % No % No % No %
Total 5,373,965 100.0 1,422,010 26.5 1,475,804 27.5 2,476,151 46.1
Colombo 602,722 100.0 12,359 2.1 159,246 26.4 431,117 71.5
Gampaha 595,268 100.0 30,161 5.1 212,392 35.7 352,714 59.3
Kalutara 314,310 100.0 49,292 15.7 106,083 33.8 158,934 50.6
Kandy 320,981 100.0 62,796 19.6 83,394 26.0 174,791 54.5
Matale 128,608 100.0 31,020 24.1 26,529 20.6 71,058 55.3
Nuwara Eliya 195,807 100.0 99,913 51.0 32,701 16.7 63,194 32.3
Galle 268,589 100.0 72,595 27.0 81,421 30.3 114,573 42.7
Matara 203,369 100.0 72,686 35.7 44,063 21.7 86,620 42.6
Hambantota 166,319 100.0 66,356 39.9 38,030 22.9 61,933 37.2
Jaffna 150,270 100.0 36,838 24.5 44,875 29.9 68,558 45.6
Mannar 32,438 100.0 16,135 49.7 6,103 18.8 10,200 31.4
Vavuniya 45,130 100.0 14,198 31.5 12,906 28.6 18,026 39.9
Mullaitivu 25,799 100.0 13,034 50.5 5,432 21.1 7,333 28.4
Kilinochchi 29,791 100.0 12,947 43.5 8,315 27.9 8,529 28.6
Batticaloa 129,980 100.0 48,138 37.0 32,003 24.6 49,839 38.3
Ampara 167,425 100.0 58,142 34.7 44,198 26.4 65,085 38.9
Trincomalee 100,169 100.0 34,434 34.4 21,877 21.8 43,858 43.8
Kurunegala 436,491 100.0 122,024 28.0 134,534 30.8 179,932 41.2
Puttalam 229,213 100.0 55,627 24.3 79,123 34.5 94,463 41.2
Anuradhapura 224,237 100.0 116,075 51.8 40,258 18.0 67,904 30.3
Polonnaruwa 114,445 100.0 54,550 47.7 21,453 18.7 38,442 33.6
Badulla 213,058 100.0 104,053 48.8 40,144 18.8 68,861 32.3
Monaragala 140,378 100.0 69,573 49.6 29,662 21.1 41,142 29.3
Rathnapura 325,703 100.0 120,920 37.1 109,217 33.5 95,566 29.3
Kegalle 213,463 100.0 48,142 22.6 61,844 29.0 103,478 48.5

Table 13B - Employment by major industry group by districts - Female


Total Agriculture Industry Services
District
No % No % No % No %
Total 2,773,766 100.0 736,549 26.6 682,394 24.6 1,354,822 48.8
Colombo 318,586 100.0 3,660 1.1 78,889 24.8 236,037 74.1
Gampaha 326,677 100.0 9,644 3.0 125,936 38.6 191,097 58.5
Kalutara 165,729 100.0 36,850 22.2 52,096 31.4 76,784 46.3
Kandy 197,398 100.0 45,903 23.3 49,408 25.0 102,086 51.7
Matale 75,091 100.0 19,117 25.5 17,641 23.5 38,334 51.0
Nuwara Eliya 142,149 100.0 96,221 67.7 15,615 11.0 30,314 21.3
Galle 157,947 100.0 52,706 33.4 32,046 20.3 73,195 46.3
Matara 93,982 100.0 30,016 31.9 16,679 17.7 47,286 50.3
Hambantota 71,692 100.0 13,311 18.6 21,765 30.4 36,616 51.1
Jaffna 44,226 100.0 4,481 10.1 6,932 15.7 32,812 74.2
Mannar 18,865 100.0 10,951 58.1 2,628 13.9 5,285 28.0
Vavuniya 19,431 100.0 3,675 18.9 3,220 16.6 12,536 64.5
Mullaitivu 10,035 100.0 3,527 35.2 1,961 19.5 4,546 45.3
Kilinochchi 11,128 100.0 1,624 14.6 3,729 33.5 5,774 51.9
Batticaloa 39,064 100.0 5,913 15.1 8,273 21.2 24,878 63.7
Ampara 45,883 100.0 7,285 15.9 8,517 18.6 30,081 65.6
Trincomalee 28,856 100.0 4,508 15.6 4,288 14.9 20,060 69.5
Kurunegala 243,880 100.0 63,138 25.9 76,699 31.4 104,043 42.7
Puttalam 103,549 100.0 26,983 26.1 31,443 30.4 45,122 43.6
Anuradhapura 127,908 100.0 66,806 52.2 17,878 14.0 43,224 33.8
Polonnaruwa 39,619 100.0 9,116 23.0 7,290 18.4 23,214 58.6
Badulla 122,695 100.0 68,317 55.7 16,189 13.2 38,190 31.1
Monaragala 61,279 100.0 34,027 55.5 7,604 12.4 19,649 32.1
Rathnapura 179,312 100.0 87,720 48.9 32,997 18.4 58,596 32.7
Kegalle 128,784 100.0 31,049 24.1 42,672 33.1 55,063 42.8
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 14 - Currently employed person by occupation group (Based on ISCO 08) by province - Both sexes

Occupation group
Province Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Total 8,147,731 340,894 596,432 688,341 296,177 901,590 1,310,662 1,173,642 786,507 2,007,366 46,120
Western 2,323,292 189,550 229,121 274,808 145,201 252,803 97,687 379,716 316,969 411,687 25,749
Central 1,060,035 32,274 71,170 89,191 28,681 114,948 164,768 106,647 88,319 361,390 2,646
Southern 961,898 30,165 62,772 75,181 32,435 105,675 178,118 149,751 73,894 250,085 3,823
Northern 387,113 10,727 39,604 33,193 7,909 39,968 78,098 52,252 26,109 99,146 109
Eastern 511,377 9,449 36,646 41,285 8,860 76,980 100,349 80,803 27,967 126,544 2,492
North Western 1,013,132 28,070 56,681 70,668 29,274 128,169 188,974 197,657 106,423 203,516 3,700
North Central 506,210 10,456 26,930 24,634 9,875 54,089 169,818 49,366 27,121 131,648 2,271
Uva 537,411 8,822 24,684 23,725 12,856 43,765 188,975 49,937 31,902 151,048 1,698
Sabaragamuwa 847,263 21,381 48,824 55,655 21,086 85,195 143,874 107,514 87,802 272,302 3,631
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
Occupation group
1 Managers, senior officials and legislators 6 Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers
2 Professionals 7 Craft and related trades workers
3 Technicians and associate Professionals 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers
4 Clerks and clerical support workers 9 Elementary occupations
5 Services and sales workers 0 Armed forces occupations & unidentified occupations

Note: It is to be noted here that these occupation groups are based on ISCO - 08

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 15 - Currently employed person by industry group (Based on ISIC fourth revision) by province - Both sexes
Industry group
Province Total
1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 other

Total 8,147,731 2,158,559 58,979 1,408,819 690,401 1,142,754 486,346 235,544 71,054 182,379 87,337 146,494 456,844 461,829 169,298 162,099 157,590 71,404

Western 2,323,292 141,966 4,633 548,429 181,582 411,261 206,036 83,254 47,843 85,804 45,755 69,272 142,263 135,758 55,870 59,001 72,822 31,742

Central 1,060,035 354,970 2,641 148,840 73,807 141,860 61,063 28,275 3,195 18,087 5,564 12,769 51,703 63,739 27,607 17,294 43,091 5,530

Southern 961,898 307,670 3,138 150,370 80,496 115,378 44,383 33,374 4,269 22,944 7,454 18,775 55,499 58,548 21,394 19,171 8,704 10,331

Northern 387,113 117,412 784 41,811 53,507 47,398 21,333 7,380 2,497 5,712 4,731 6,030 20,286 31,024 8,747 9,172 6,752 2,538

Eastern 511,377 158,421 3,675 47,866 67,616 76,330 21,762 11,156 491 8,738 3,021 7,061 44,793 33,795 11,510 10,389 1,430 3,326

North Western 1,013,132 267,772 6,549 211,545 103,705 150,315 54,252 31,631 6,269 15,778 8,423 12,070 44,076 50,740 16,315 19,919 8,782 4,994

North Central 506,210 246,547 2,517 50,666 33,696 58,464 11,454 10,298 547 5,816 2,789 6,668 31,330 23,930 7,056 5,902 5,057 3,474

Uva 537,411 275,970 4,743 54,436 34,420 51,443 21,052 10,750 892 7,070 2,584 6,438 23,213 24,783 6,263 6,339 2,354 4,661

Sabaragamuwa 847,263 287,831 30,299 154,856 61,573 90,305 45,011 19,427 5,051 12,430 7,016 7,413 43,682 39,512 14,535 14,912 8,599 4,810

These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

Industry group
1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) 17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
2 Mining & quarrying (B) 19 Other service activities (S)
3 Manufacturing (C) 20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and
6 Construction, Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water services - producing activities of households for own use (T)
supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (D,E,F) Other
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
8 Transportation and storage (H) Other
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I) 12 Real estate activities (L)
10 Information and communication (J) 18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
11 Financial and insurance activities (K) 21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N)
15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
16 Education (P)
Note: These Industry groups are based on ISIC - Rev. 4

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 16 - Currently employed person by employment status by province - Both sexes

Employee Own Unpaid


Province Total Employer Account Family
Total Public Private Worker Worker

Total 8,147,731 4,728,424 1,231,788 3,496,636 236,581 2,700,650 482,075


Western 2,323,292 1,520,874 341,525 1,179,348 102,825 624,941 74,653
Central 1,060,035 636,561 170,200 466,362 24,404 321,254 77,816
Southern 961,898 565,193 152,126 413,067 25,779 324,440 46,486
Northern 387,113 241,510 69,947 171,563 9,707 126,686 9,210
Eastern 511,377 319,876 109,306 210,570 10,144 163,631 17,726
North Western 1,013,132 517,717 128,479 389,238 32,233 383,527 79,656
North Central 506,210 206,639 72,176 134,463 8,321 234,819 56,431
Uva 537,411 242,203 72,266 169,937 3,515 227,584 64,109
Sabaragamuwa 847,263 477,853 115,764 362,088 19,654 293,768 55,988

Table 16A - Currently employed person by employment status by province – Male

Employee Own Unpaid


Province Total Employer Account Family
Total Public Private Worker Worker

Total 5,373,965 3,063,304 641,274 2,422,030 207,874 1,997,360 105,426


Western 1,512,300 964,683 181,989 782,694 92,869 436,449 18,299
Central 645,396 375,112 83,074 292,037 20,848 233,498 15,939
Southern 638,277 370,177 73,377 296,800 21,657 236,725 9,718
Northern 283,429 172,227 33,810 138,417 8,955 97,118 5,128
Eastern 397,574 255,240 69,198 186,043 9,445 124,473 8,416
North Western 665,704 339,065 64,656 274,409 29,410 282,023 15,205
North Central 338,682 137,188 40,701 96,487 6,848 184,029 10,618
Uva 353,436 155,399 39,768 115,630 3,210 182,299 12,529
Sabaragamuwa 539,167 294,213 54,700 239,513 14,632 220,747 9,575

Table 16B - Currently employed person by employment status by province -Female

Employee Own Unpaid


Province Total Employer Account Family
Total Public Private Worker Worker

Total 2,773,766 1,665,121 590,514 1,074,607 28,707 703,290 376,648


Western 810,992 556,191 159,536 396,655 9,956 188,492 56,353
Central 414,638 261,450 87,125 174,324 3,556 87,756 61,877
Southern 323,621 195,016 78,749 116,267 4,121 87,715 36,769
Northern 103,685 69,283 36,137 33,146 752 29,568 4,082
Eastern 113,803 64,635 40,108 24,527 699 39,159 9,310
North Western 347,429 178,651 63,822 114,829 2,823 101,504 64,451
North Central 167,528 69,451 31,475 37,976 1,473 50,790 45,813
Uva 183,975 86,805 32,498 54,307 305 45,285 51,580
Sabaragamuwa 308,096 183,640 61,064 122,576 5,021 73,022 46,413

These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 17 - Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district - Both
sexes

District Total 0* 1-9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 - 49 50 & over

Total 100.0 5.8 2.1 6.0 10.5 15.4 32.4 27.8


Colombo 100.0 5.8 1.4 3.8 6.9 12.8 44.8 24.5
Gampaha 100.0 6.0 0.9 3.3 6.4 14.8 28.4 40.2
Kalutara 100.0 4.8 2.7 7.4 13.3 13.3 30.4 28.1
Kandy 100.0 7.1 1.0 3.7 10.1 15.6 30.6 31.9
Matale 100.0 11.2 1.8 8.2 12.3 13.2 28.3 24.9
Nuwara Eliya 100.0 1.2 0.3 6.4 10.2 11.1 38.5 32.3
Galle 100.0 10.2 4.1 7.3 11.9 12.2 26.1 28.1
Matara 100.0 4.2 2.3 8.5 16.9 18.0 32.2 18.0
Hambantota 100.0 9.6 2.7 9.0 14.9 16.0 26.7 21.0
Jaffna 100.0 1.9 0.7 4.4 8.8 15.2 48.8 20.3
Mannar 100.0 11.4 1.9 6.5 7.1 24.2 26.0 22.8
Vavuniya 100.0 1.5 1.0 5.7 16.5 19.4 35.2 20.6
Mullaitivu 100.0 2.0 0.8 3.5 7.1 34.1 42.9 9.5
Kilinochchi 100.0 1.9 .. 0.5 4.1 24.3 41.2 28.1
Batticaloa 100.0 3.6 0.2 1.7 7.8 15.8 33.6 37.3
Ampara 100.0 2.5 2.2 3.2 9.1 15.6 38.2 29.2
Trincomalee 100.0 5.4 0.2 2.0 6.7 15.6 44.8 25.3
Kurunegala 100.0 5.5 5.0 7.8 11.5 15.3 34.1 20.9
Puttalam 100.0 5.4 1.5 7.0 11.8 13.8 29.8 30.6
Anuradhapura 100.0 6.5 2.7 8.7 9.6 18.4 26.0 28.0
Polonnaruwa 100.0 12.4 5.0 10.1 10.1 10.5 18.7 33.3
Badulla 100.0 6.6 4.4 9.4 15.0 19.3 26.7 18.7
Monaragala 100.0 3.8 2.3 4.4 9.9 18.3 32.5 28.8
Rathnapura 100.0 5.3 1.6 7.7 14.7 18.7 24.5 27.5
Kegalle 100.0 3.2 1.0 5.1 9.6 19.0 33.9 28.2
0* Has a job but not at work during the reference week .. Net reported
These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high

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Table 17A - Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district –
Male
District Total 0* 1-9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 – 49 50 & over
Total 100.0 6.2 1.7 5.1 9.6 13.5 31.9 32.0
Colombo 100.0 5.7 1.0 3.0 6.8 11.2 43.8 28.4
Gampaha 100.0 6.9 0.7 2.9 6.1 12.9 27.2 43.4
Kalutara 100.0 5.0 1.9 7.0 12.2 12.0 30.6 31.4
Kandy 100.0 8.7 0.5 3.2 8.4 13.4 29.4 36.5
Matale 100.0 11.8 1.5 7.5 9.5 10.7 28.7 30.4
Nuwara Eliya 100.0 1.7 0.3 5.3 8.0 12.3 29.0 43.3
Galle 100.0 12.2 2.7 6.9 10.5 11.2 22.6 33.9
Matara 100.0 4.9 1.5 7.8 16.7 15.8 32.9 20.5
Hambantota 100.0 11.2 2.7 8.7 14.7 14.2 25.1 23.4
Jaffna 100.0 2.0 0.7 3.7 8.7 12.5 49.8 22.5
Mannar 100.0 14.0 0.8 4.7 7.0 12.9 29.2 31.4
Vavuniya 100.0 0.9 1.2 5.2 16.9 20.1 33.2 22.6
Mullaitivu 100.0 2.1 0.6 2.1 4.9 37.8 43.0 9.4
Kilinochchi 100.0 1.5 .. 0.3 5.6 24.4 38.6 29.5
Batticaloa 100.0 3.8 0.2 0.9 6.3 11.6 33.3 43.9
Ampara 100.0 2.2 1.9 3.5 7.8 12.0 40.0 32.6
Trincomalee 100.0 5.9 0.2 1.1 5.1 13.1 47.1 27.5
Kurunegala 100.0 4.9 4.1 6.9 10.7 14.6 34.9 23.9
Puttalam 100.0 5.4 1.6 6.4 10.8 12.0 27.0 36.8
Anuradhapura 100.0 5.9 1.9 6.7 9.6 15.7 27.1 33.0
Polonnaruwa 100.0 13.5 5.4 10.6 10.3 8.4 15.5 36.3
Badulla 100.0 6.9 4.6 7.7 13.7 16.5 27.7 22.9
Monaragala 100.0 4.2 2.0 4.1 6.0 16.0 35.6 32.0
Rathnapura 100.0 6.5 1.1 4.9 13.3 16.4 25.2 32.6
Kegalle 100.0 3.2 0.7 4.6 9.2 16.1 33.3 33.0

Table 17B - Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district -
Female
District Total 0* 1-9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 – 49 50 & over
Total 100.0 4.9 2.9 7.6 12.3 19.0 33.5 19.8
Colombo 100.0 6.0 1.9 5.4 7.0 15.7 46.8 17.1
Gampaha 100.0 4.5 1.3 4.1 6.9 18.3 30.6 34.4
Kalutara 100.0 4.6 4.2 8.0 15.5 15.8 29.9 22.0
Kandy 100.0 4.5 1.9 4.4 12.9 19.2 32.5 24.5
Matale 100.0 10.2 2.3 9.5 17.1 17.6 27.8 15.5
Nuwara Eliya 100.0 0.4 0.4 7.9 13.1 9.5 51.5 17.2
Galle 100.0 6.9 6.5 8.0 14.3 13.9 32.0 18.3
Matara 100.0 2.6 4.2 9.9 17.2 22.7 30.9 12.5
Hambantota 100.0 6.0 2.7 9.8 15.5 20.2 30.4 15.5
Jaffna 100.0 1.7 0.6 6.6 9.0 24.2 45.2 12.6
Mannar 100.0 7.0 3.9 9.6 7.4 43.8 20.5 7.9
Vavunia 100.0 2.9 0.7 6.8 15.6 17.9 39.9 16.1
Mullativu 100.0 1.6 1.4 6.9 12.8 24.8 42.6 9.8
Kilinochcchi 100.0 2.7 .. 1.1 .. 23.8 48.3 24.2
Batticaloa 100.0 3.2 .. 4.3 13.0 29.9 34.3 15.2
Ampara 100.0 3.4 3.5 2.3 13.9 28.5 31.6 16.9
Trincomalee 100.0 3.6 .. 5.2 12.2 24.3 36.9 17.8
Kurunegala 100.0 6.5 6.6 9.4 12.8 16.5 32.7 15.5
Puttalam 100.0 5.6 1.4 8.3 14.2 17.7 35.9 16.9
Anuradhapura 100.0 7.5 4.2 12.1 9.6 23.2 24.1 19.3
Polonnaruwa 100.0 9.1 3.9 8.6 9.5 16.5 27.8 24.6
Badulla 100.0 6.0 4.0 12.3 17.2 24.1 25.0 11.4
Moneragala 100.0 3.0 2.8 5.0 19.0 23.5 25.2 21.5
Ratnapura 100.0 3.2 2.5 12.9 17.2 22.8 23.2 18.3
Kegalle 100.0 3.4 1.6 5.9 10.2 23.7 34.9 20.3
0* Has a job but not at work during the reference week .. Net reported
These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 18 - Unemployment rate by level of education by province - Both sexes


Level of education

Province Total Grade 5 & Grades GCE (O.L)/ GCE (A.L)/


Below 6 - 10 NCGE HNCE &
above
Total 4.7 0.7 3.4 6.1 7.8
Western 4.9 1.2 3.9 5.6 6.2
Central 5.7 1.1 4.1 7.8 10.3
Southern 5.8 0.4 4.4 6.4 10.6
Northern 4.3 .. 2.0 11.2 7.6
Eastern 3.9 0.7 3.0 4.2 9.1
North Western 3.7 0.9 2.5 5.4 7.2
North Central 3.7 0.9 2.9 5.4 8.2
Uva 4.4 0.6 2.9 8.0 10.8
Sabaragamuwa 3.8 .. 3.1 5.8 6.4

These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation)
values are high.
.. Net reported

Table 19 - Unemployment rate by age group by province - Both sexes


Age group
Province Total
15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 & over
Total 4.7 27.2 21.8 11.7 1.7
Western 4.9 27.4 19.2 9.3 2.3
Central 5.7 49.2 28.7 14.8 2.0
Southern 5.8 34.0 27.0 19.0 2.0
Northern 4.3 19.2 14.7 11.3 1.3
Eastern 3.9 12.7 14.3 11.6 1.5
North Western 3.7 21.1 18.9 8.2 1.3
North Central 3.7 18.3 26.3 11.3 0.6
Uva 4.4 31.8 21.8 11.9 1.4
Sabaragamuwa 3.8 31.2 25.0 11.7 0.6

These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation)
values are high.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Table 20 - Employment in formal/ informal employment by status in employment - Both sexes

Status of Employment 2019 2020 2021 2022


Total employment 8,180,693 7,999,093 8,113,507 8,147,731
Total informal employment 5,460,182 5,358,900 5,478,420 5,471,252
Informal employees 2,348,229 2,282,800 2,328,383 2,395,916
Informal employees in the informal sector 1,641,320 1,620,010 1,639,716 1,658,348
Informal employees in the formal sector 706,909 662,790 688,666 737,568
Informal entrepreneurs (employers + own account workers) 2,537,399 2,533,302 2,611,440 2,593,262
Contributing family workers 574,555 542,798 538,597 482,075
Contributing family workers in the informal sector 519,468 493,168 484,571 427,080
Contributing family workers in the formal sector 55,086 49,630 54,026 54,994
Total formal employment 2,720,510 2,640,193 2,635,087 2,676,478
Formal employees 2,390,015 2,312,912 2,317,189 2,332,509
Formal employees in the formal sector 2,390,015 2,312,912 2,317,189 2,332,509
Formal employees in the informal sector - - - -
Formal entrepreneurs (employers + own account workers) 330,496 327,281 317,898 343,970
Total employment in non-agricultural sector 6,108,752 5,829,414 5,900,492 5,989,172
Total informal employment 3,557,455 3,375,713 3,446,921 3,498,521
Informal employees 1,880,172 1,789,022 1,814,064 1,817,995
Informal employees in the informal sector 1,227,862 1,174,503 1,186,257 1,152,536
Informal employees in the formal sector 652,310 614,519 627,807 665,459
Informal entrepreneurs (employers + own account workers) 1,456,161 1,406,701 1,437,749 1,486,425
Contributing family workers 221,122 179,991 195,108 194,101
Contributing family workers in the informal sector 170,973 134,693 147,273 144,099
Contributing family workers in the formal sector 50,148 45,298 47,835 50,002
Total formal employment 2,551,298 2,453,701 2,453,572 2,490,651
Formal employees 2,247,199 2,147,032 2,160,276 2,174,032
Formal employees in the formal sector 2,247,199 2,147,032 2,160,276 2,174,032
Formal employees in the informal sector - - - -
Formal entrepreneurs (employers + own account workers) 304,099 306,669 293,295 316,619

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Special Statistical Appendix


EXPLANATORY NOTES

Coverage

Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey was designed to measure the levels and trends of employment, unemployment and
labour force in Sri Lanka. This survey is being conducted quarterly, since the first quarter of 1990.

This survey of households is conducted through a scientifically selected sample designed to represent the civilian
non-institutional population. Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment status etc. of
each member of the household 15 years of age and older.

The field work of the survey is done during the third week of each month, Monday through Sunday. This is known as
the "survey week". The inquiry relates to activity or status are referred in the preceding week of the survey week;
referred as the "reference week/reference period".

The concepts and definitions underlying labour force data are as follows.

Concepts & Definitions

1. Labour force : The labour force is composed of the currently economically active population 15 years of age and
over.

2. The Economically Active Population : is defined as those persons who are/were employed or unemployed
during the reference period of the survey.

3. Employed: Persons, who during the reference period, worked as paid employees, employers, own account
workers, or unpaid family workers are said to be employed. This includes persons with a job but not at work
during the reference period.

a. Paid employees, (those who work for wages/salaries).


b. Employers (entrepreneurs those who have at least one paid employee under them).
c. Own account workers (entrepreneurs those who don’t have any paid employee).
d. Contributing family workers (who make their contribution to the economic activities
carried out by their own household, without wages/salaries).

4 Unemployed: Persons who are seeking and available for work, but had no employment during the reference
period.

5 Currently Economically Active: A person who was employed or unemployed during the current reference (one
week) period is considered to be currently economically active.

6 Not in the Labour Force (not economically active) : Persons who were neither working not available/looking
for work are classified as ”not in the labour force”. Persons are not in the labour force for such reasons as; full
time care of the household, full – time students, retired or old age, infirmed or disabled, or are not interested in
working for one reason or another.

7 Criteria for classification of underemployment: In order to classify employed persons as visibly


underemployed,

(i) If the person has worked less than the normal duration in his/her main activity

In Sri Lanka scenario, 35 hours per week is taken as the cut-off point applicable to all workers, except
government teachers. As in practice, though teachers do have a normal duration of work which is below the general

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cut-off point, they should be on a full time schedule according to the nature of their job. Further, those who do have
a secondary job, or those who are employers, were considered as having worked the normal duration in their
respective activity.

Therefore, if the person has worked less than the normal duration in his/her activity (as described above),
then the person is further questioned to ascertain whether He/She is prepared and available for further work if
provided. Such persons are considered underemployed in their respective employment.

(ii) If the person has worked more than the normal duration in his/her activity

If the person has worked even more than 35 hours as usually, but he has worked less than 35 hours actually
in the reference period, only due to the off season or bad weather, such persons were also further questioned to
check their underemployment situation, considering them as a special category.

Until 2012, only the time spent on main activity was considered to decide cutoff time limit. However,
from 2013 onward this has being changed and time spent on both main and secondary activities were
considered to decide cutoff time limit.

8 Informal Sector Employment


In order to classify a person to be employed in informal sector employment, following information were
used.

(i) Registration of the organization


(ii) Accounts keeping practices of the organization
(iii) Total number of regular employees of the organization

9 NEET
Youths (age 15-24 population) not in employment, education or training.

Youth 15-24

Economically Active Economically Inactive


youth youth

Non-NEET
Employed Unemployed Inactive NEET (Who are in Education
or Training)

Non-NEET
Unemployed NEET (Who are in Education
or Training

Chart 01: Distribution of youth population by various economic conditions

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Reliability of the estimates

Statistics based on the quarterly labour force data are subject to both sampling and non - sampling errors. When a
sample rather than the entire population is surveyed, there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the
"true" population values they represent.

The exact differences, or sampling error, varies depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is
measured by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 95 percent chance, or level of confidence, that an
estimate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.96 standard errors from the " true" population value,
because of sampling error. Analyses relating to the Labour Force Survey are generally conducted at the 95 percent
level of confidence.

For example, the confidence interval for the quarterly unemployment rate is on the order of

Estimated value (of the unemployment rate) ± (standard error) * (1.96)

6.4 ± (0.4) * (1.96)


(6.4 ± 0.784)

This means, the 95 percent confidence interval on the quarterly unemployment rate could range from (5.6 to 7.2).
This implies that there is about 95 percent chance that the "true" unemployment rate lies within this interval. This
range includes all the values range from 5.6 to 7.2. When the comparison of this estimate is done between two
quarters, if any of the value within the 95 percent confidence interval of one quarter overlaps with the confidence
interval of the other , it means that the estimates of this two quarters are not significantly different.

Therefore, in each quarterly labour force report, a separate Table is given including approximate standard errors for
some selected variables, so that users could understand this statistical scenario clearly.

Distribution of unemployment rates and 95% confidence intervals (2020Q1 -2022Q4)

Figure3 : Unemployment rates and 95% confidence intervals (2020Q1- 2022Q4)


7.0

6.5
Unemployment Rate (%)

6.0
5.7 5.4 5.8 5.7
5.5
5.1
5.0 5.2 4.8
5.2 4.6 5.0
4.5 4.3
4.6
4.0

3.5

3.0
2020 Q1

2020 Q2

2020 Q3

2020 Q4

2021 Q1

2021 Q2

2021 Q3

2021 Q4

2022 Q1

2022 Q2

2022 Q3

2022 Q4

Time Period (2020Q1 - 2021Q4)

Point estimate of unemployment rate 95% Confidence Interval (CI)

As seen in Figure, it is very important to note that, there were no statistically significant differences between the
unemployment rates reported in different time periods of 2020/2022, when sampling error was considered.

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Change in survey schedule

Current survey concepts and methods are very similar to those introduced at the beginning of the survey in 1990.
However, some changes have been made over the years to improve the accuracy and usefulness of the data. In
January 2006, some improvements were made to the labour force survey schedule in order to fulfill the
requirements of data users and also to provide additional information for planning purposes. The revision was made
focusing on literacy, household economic activities, and informal sector employment and under employment etc.

From January , 2013 onwards, the lower bound of working age populations is considered as age 15, hence age 15
and over population is considered as working age population .The survey schedule is updated to obtain more
precise information on following age, informal employment, informal sector, secondary occupation, wages & income
, unemployment & trainings.

New Industry & Occupation classifications

From January 2013 onward the survey uses new industry & occupation classifications, such as

SLIC Rev 4 - Sri Lanka Standard Industry Classification based on International Standard Industry classification - Rev.4
(ISIC Rev 4)

SLSCO 08 - Sri Lanka Standard Classification of Occupation -2008 based on International Standard Classification of
Occupation-2008 (ISCO 2008)

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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Note :

It is important to note that, all the data published here are the estimates based on a sample survey and these are
subject to sampling errors. These sampling errors can be statistically evaluated from the survey results. Therefore,
sampling error is normally measured in terms of the standard error of the particular variable. Standard error could be
used to calculate the confidence limits with a prescribed accuracy where the true value of the estimates lies.

Further reliability of the estimates can be expressed in terms of Coefficient of Variation (CV). The CV is a relative
measure of the sampling error and is calculated as sampling error divided by the expected value of the given
characteristic.

In view of this, following table is given to show the estimates for some selected variables, it's standard error, CV and
95% Confidence interval.

It is also important to note that all the estimates we publish in this report are subject to sampling error and one should
be cautious in the interpretation of results, especially with respect to the trends over time.

Estimate of Confidence Intervals for some selected characteristics

Labour Force Employed


Year Standard C.V 95% C.I. Standard C.V 95% C.I.
No. No.
error (%) Lower Upper error (%) Lower Upper

2015 8,214,473 91,316 1.11 8,035,428 8,393,517 7,830,976 87,603 1.12 7,659,212 8,002,740
2016 8,310,682 66,023 0.79 8,181,215 8,440,148 7,947,683 64,616 0.81 7,820,977 8,074,389
2017 8,566,686 49,822 0.58 8,468,989 8,664,382 8,208,179 48,420 0.59 8,113,231 8,303,126
2018 8,387,759 57,008 0.68 8,275,971 8,499,546 8,015,166 55,036 0.69 7,907,245 8,123,087
2019 8,592,010 54,293 0.63 8,485,546 8,698,475 8,180,693 52,108 0.64 8,078,513 8,282,872
2020 8,466,606 58,917 0.70 8,351,075 8,582,137 7,999,093 56,610 0.71 7,888,086 8,110,101
2021 8,553,290 58,311 0.68 8,438,947 8,667,633 8,113,507 56,072 0.69 8,003,555 8,223,460
2022 8,547,062 58,034 0.68 8,433,262 8,660,862 8,147,731 56,377 0.69 8,037,181 8,258,281

Unemployed Unemployment Rate


Year
Standard C.V 95% C.I. Standard C.V 95% C.I.
No. Rate
error (%) Lower Upper error (%) Lower Upper

2015 383,496 12,765 3.33 358,467 408,526 4.7 0.1 3.11 4.4 5.0
2016 362,999 11,186 3.08 341,064 384,933 4.4 0.1 3.02 4.1 4.6
2017 358,507 11,347 3.17 336,256 380,758 4.2 0.1 3.08 3.9 4.4
2018 372,593 11,350 3.05 350,337 394,849 4.4 0.1 2.94 4.2 4.7
2019 411,318 12,814 3.12 386,191 436,444 4.8 0.1 3.00 4.5 5.1
2020 467,513 14,029 3.00 440,004 495,022 5.5 0.2 2.88 5.2 5.8
2021 439,783 13,930 3.17 412,468 467,097 5.1 0.2 3.05 4.8 5.4
2022 399,332 13,022 3.26 373,797 424,867 4.7 0.1 3.17 4.4 5.0

- 87 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Standard error (Page 1)


Standard error and coefficient of variation of selected variables
Estimated Standard Coefficient Estimated Standard Coefficient
Value Error of Variation Value of Variation
(%) (Ratio) Error (%)
General labour force characteristics
Population ( 15 years & over) 17,161,973 81,000 0.47
Employed Population 8,147,731 56,377 0.69
Unemployed Population 399,332 13,022 3.26
Employment Rate 95.3 0.1 0.16
Unemployment Rate 4.7 0.1 3.17
Labour Force 8,547,062 58,034 0.68
Not in Labour Force 8,614,911 58,001 0.67
Employed persons by major industry Groups
1 2,158,559 42,661 1.98
2 58,979 6,412 10.87
3 1,408,819 26,720 1.90
6 690,401 16,669 2.41
7 1,142,754 23,806 2.08
8 486,346 13,088 2.69
9 235,544 10,123 4.30
10 71,054 5,410 7.61
11 182,379 8,568 4.70
13 87,337 5,773 6.61
14 146,494 7,829 5.34
15 456,844 14,394 3.15
16 461,829 14,122 3.06
17 169,298 9,058 5.35
19 162,099 7,836 4.83
20 157,590 9,086 5.77
Other 71,404 5,299 7.42
Unemployed persons by level of education
Below grade 5 7,147 1,624 22.72
Grade 5 - 9/Year 6 - 10 128,196 6,442 5.03
G.C.E.(O/L)/N.C.G.E. 94,058 5,071 5.39
G.C.E.(A/L)/H.N.C.E. & above 169,931 6,671 3.93
Industry group
1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A)
2 Mining & quarrying (B)
3 Manufacturing (C)
6 Construction, Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water supply, sewerage, waste management
and remediation activities (D, E,F)
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G)
8 Transportation and storage (H)
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I)
10 Information and communication (J)
11 Financial and insurance activities (K)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N)
15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
16 Education (P)
17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
19 Other service activities (S)
20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services - producing activities of households
for own use (T)
Other
Other
12 Real estate activities (L)
18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)

88
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

ALTERNATIVE ESTIMATES

Alternative Estimates of Employment, Unemployment and Labour Force Characteristics

Official employment, unemployment and labour force characteristics are estimated at the Sri Lanka
Labour Force Survey, based on the internationally comparable concepts and definitions recommended
by the ILO. However the validity of the concepts and definitions used at the survey is questioned very
often in some forums, for the appropriateness of these concepts and definitions in the Sri Lankan
context.

The concepts and definitions, which were found to be controversial, are as below.

(1) Number of Hours of : A person who work at least one hour during the reference week,
Work is considered employed, under these definitions.

(2) Working Age : All persons of age 10 years and over are considered to be in the
Population working age, before 2013. However, this was changed as age 15
and over from 2013 onward.

(3) Employment Status : All,


a) Paid employees, (those who work for wages/salaries).
b) Employers (who have at least one paid employee under them).
c) Own account workers (who carry out the economic activity
without having any paid employees).
d) Contributing family workers (who make their contribution to the
economic activities carried out by their own household, without
wages/salaries).

The validity of the above concepts and definitions is raised due to the following reasons.

(1) Number of Hours of : Some pointed out that one hour per week is too low, to consider
Work a person to be employed.

(2) Working Age : Some pointed out those persons in the age group 10-14 yrs. are
Population too young to be considered in the working age. (From 2013
onward the working age population is considered as age 15 and
over).
(3) Employment Status : Some pointed out that ‘contributing family workers’ may work in
the family enterprise without payment because they have no
other work, and so it is not appropriate to consider them as
employed.

An attempt has been made to produce 'Alternative estimates of Employment, Unemployment and
Labour Force Characteristics,' by revising the original concepts and definitions so that the above issues
are addressed as explained below.

The revisions made are,

(1) Number of Hours of : Persons who work 20 hours or more per week only are
Work considered to be employed.

(2) Contributing Family : Contributing family workers are not considered as employed.
Worker They are considered as economically inactive (not in the labour
force) so only, a) paid employees b) employers and c) own
account workers are considered to be employed.

Following Tables are based on the above alternative concepts and definitions.

- 89 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Alternative estimates (page 2)


Table 1 - Labour force status of household population 15 years & over (Alternative estimates)

Household Labour force Not in


population Total Labour Employed Unemployed labour
Year (15 years labour force Number Rate Number Rate force
& over) force partici: (% to total (% to total number
rate(%) labour force) labour force)
2015 15,281,945 7,156,393 46.8 6,772,896 94.6 383,496 5.4 8,125,553

2016 15,448,679 7,325,972 47.4 6,962,973 95.0 362,999 5.0 8,122,707

2017 15,843,735 7,474,883 47.2 7,116,376 95.2 358,507 4.8 8,368,851

2018 16,196,232 7,428,999 45.9 7,056,406 95.0 372,593 5.0 8,767,233

2019 16,424,016 7,609,700 46.3 7,198,383 94.6 411,318 5.4 8,814,316

2020 16,739,396 7,438,037 44.4 6,970,524 93.7 467,513 6.3 9,301,359

2021 17,133,659 7,471,067 43.6 7,031,284 94.1 439,783 5.9 9,662,592

2022 17,161,973 7,497,884 43.7 7,098,552 94.7 399,332 5.3 9,664,089

Table 2 - Historical table of number and rate of unemployment by age (Alternative estimates)

Age group

Year Total 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 39 40 & Above

NO. Rate No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate
2015 383,561 5.4 55,557 28.6 143,351 22.0 78,592 10.4 60,768 3.4 45,229 1.2

2016 362,999 5.0 58,622 32.8 144,156 22.2 76,624 10.0 47,956 2.7 35,640 0.9

2017 358,507 4.8 46,016 25.1 135,121 19.7 79,727 10.4 53,053 3.0 44,590 1.1

2018 372,593 5.0 52,624 30.4 144,824 22.1 84,000 11.3 55,853 3.3 35,291 0.8

2019 411,318 5.4 53,652 29.3 148,046 22.4 93,793 11.8 59,009 3.4 56,818 1.3

2020 467,513 6.3 62,910 38.0 183,722 27.5 100,359 13.0 64,493 3.9 56,029 1.3

2021 439,783 5.9 39,102 30.8 187,104 29.7 97,631 12.5 66,973 4.2 48,972 1.1

2022 399,332 5.3 38,456 32.0 148,378 23.8 97,317 12.6 56,437 3.5 58,743 1.3

90
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
Alternative Estimates (Page 3)
Table 3 - Currently employed person by industry group (Based on ISIC fourth revision) (Alternative estimates) - Both sexes

Industry group
Year Total
1 2 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 other

2018 No. 7,056,406 1,513,837 58,743 1,336,902 676,629 1,010,560 487,204 205,377 54,000 171,779 81,274 158,089 431,126 398,079 140,278 101,641 178,313 52,575

% 100.0 21.5 0.8 18.9 9.6 14.3 6.9 2.9 0.8 2.4 1.2 2.2 6.1 5.6 2.0 1.4 2.5 0.7

2019 No. 7,198,383 1,538,804 58,117 1,365,637 659,891 992,825 500,547 204,840 62,552 184,666 87,913 193,082 430,760 401,519 164,487 119,721 172,494 60,528

% 100.0 21.4 0.8 19.0 9.2 13.8 7.0 2.8 0.9 2.6 1.2 2.7 6.0 5.6 2.3 1.7 2.4 0.8

2020 No. 6,970,524 1,592,043 51,906 1,276,171 660,251 970,228 494,638 186,117 55,187 174,496 82,307 157,459 433,734 370,960 152,648 114,254 153,050 45,075

% 100.0 22.8 0.7 18.3 9.5 13.9 7.1 2.7 0.8 2.5 1.2 2.3 6.2 5.3 2.2 1.6 2.2 0.6

2021 No. 7,031,284 1,645,518 47,771 1,236,731 643,441 1,015,162 452,687 183,091 71,279 177,033 76,063 129,244 476,399 373,300 168,807 109,266 181,500 43,994

% 100.0 23.4 0.7 17.6 9.2 14.4 6.4 2.6 1.0 2.5 1.1 1.8 6.8 5.3 2.4 1.6 2.6 0.6

2022 No. 7,098,552 1,624,304 54,869 1,273,780 626,142 1,021,153 450,290 195,864 69,084 179,777 81,766 135,361 449,381 429,513 164,503 142,340 135,921 64,505

% 100.0 22.9 0.8 17.9 8.8 14.4 6.3 2.8 1.0 2.5 1.2 1.9 6.3 6.1 2.3 2.0 1.9 0.9

Note: These Industry groups are based on ISIC - Rev. 4


Industry group
1 Agriculture, forestry and fishing (A) 15 Public administration and defense compulsory social security (O)
2 Mining & quarrying (B) 16 Education (P)
3 Manufacturing (C) 17 Human health and social work activities (Q)
6 Construction, Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, Water supply, sewerage, 19 Other service activities (S)
waste management and remediation activities (D,E,F) 20 Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods and services -
7 Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles(G) producing activities of households for own use (T)
8 Transportation and storage (H) Other
9 Accommodation and food services activities (I)
10 Information and communication (J) Other
11 Financial and insurance activities (K) 12 Real estate activities (L)
13 Professional, scientific and technical activities (M) 18 Arts, entertainment and recreation (R)
14 Administrative and support service activities (N) 21 Activities of extra territorial organizations & bodies (U)

- 91 - -91-
For Office Use Only

Confidential Serial No. of


Year Month Name of the District
Housing Unit
The Information collected in this survey
will be strictly confidential and individual
level information will not be divulged to
any person or agency.

SRI LANKA LABOUR FORCE SURVEY 2022


SURVEY SCHEDULE

Department of Census & Statisics


Sri Lanka
IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION

1' Address (Where it belongs ) () 11. Number of Household :- No :-

2' Province :- 12. Name of Head of Household :-

3' District :-

13. Respondent’s Name :-


4' DS Division :-

Signature :- Telephone No :-

5' GN Division Number :- Name :-

14. Interviewer’s Name :-

6' Sector :-

Signature :- Date :-
7' Name of M.C./U.C./P.S. :-

8' Name of Ward/ Village/Estate :- 15. Supervisor’s Name :-

9' C.B.No :- Sample Series No :-


Signature :- Date :-
10' Survey Quarter :-

Office use Only

Housing unit Sample Household No


Special Census Block No Household Serial No
Year Month Sector District D.S.Division No code No (within Census (within
(PSU) (Within District)
Block) Housing Unit)
Concept and definitions:

1. Labour Force : The labour force is composed of the economically active population 15 years of age and over

2. The Economically Active Population : Is defined as those persons who are/were employed or unemployed during the reference period of

the survey.

3. Employed: A person (during the reference period) worked as played employee, employers, own account workers (self employed), or unpaid

family worker is said to be employed. This includes a person with a job but were absent from that job during that period on a temporary basis

such as persons who during the reference period were sick , on vacation, maternity leave, strike or temporarily laid off.

4. Unemployed : Persons available and /or looking for work , and who did not work but taken steps during last 4 weeks to find a job and ready

to accept a job if given a work opportunity within next two weeks .

5. Reference Period :

Current Reference Period : The week preceding the week of the survey; i.e. last week.

6. Not in the Labour Force (not economically active) : A person who was neither working nor available / looking for a job are classified as

"not in the labour force". Persons are not in the labour force for such reasons as full time care of the household ,full time students, retired or

Old age , infirmed or disabled , or are not interested in working for one reason or another (Current and usual definitions apply)

7. Underemployment : is defined based on hours of working in his occupation/Economic activity. i.e. The persons who are willing and able to

work beyond the total hours work.

8. Informal Sector : If the institute of the employed person is not officially registered, and if the institute does not keep formal accounts and if the institute has
less than 10 regular employees then the institute is define as an informal sector institute.
Controlling Information
Interviewer’s Visits First Second Third
1. Date
2. Result*

3. Time taken to complete schedule


Minutes Minutes Minutes

* Result Code 4. If the housing unit is consolidated,


Completed 1 No. of H.U.’s listed for this unit.
Deferred 2

Housing unit not available currently ** 3 5. If the housing unit is divided,


Not competent respondent at home 4 No. of H.U.’s in this unit as at present.
Refused 5
Housing unit is temporarily closed 6
Other (Specify& 7

** Specify the reasons for not available


6. Office use only
particular housing unit now
Code of Final Result
(i) Being empty
(ii) Not used by non-seasons Completed 1
(iii) Unable to live Not completed 2
(iv) Demolished Non related unit 3
CODES FOR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Column - 3 Relationship to Head of Column - 10 Educational Attainment Column - 11 Attendance at Schooling or other
Household Educational Institution
Head of Household................................................1 School …………………………………………………………1
Wife / Husband .....................................................2 Studying / Studied Grade 1 ......................................................00 University………………………………………………...….…..2
Son / Daughter.......................................................3 Passed Grade - 1........................................................................01 Other Educational Institution …………………………………..3
Parents...................................................................4 Passed Grade - 2........................................................................02 Vocational / Technical institution……………………….………4
Other Relative........................................................5 Passed Grade - 3 .......................................................................03 Does not attend …………………………………………………5
Domestic Servant..................................................6 Passed Grade - 4........................................................................04
Boarder..................................................................7 Passed Grade - 5........................................................................05
Other......................................................................8 Passed Grade - 6........................................................................06 Column - 12, 13, 14 Literacy
Passed Grade - 7........................................................................07 Able to read and write ..............................................................1

Column - 4 Gender Passed Grade - 8........................................................................08 Unable to read and write ..........................................................2
Male......................................................................1 Passed Grade - 9........................................................................09
Female...................................................................2 Passed Grade - 10......................................................................10 For Question No.2 in the Labour Force Part
Passed G.C.E.(O/L) / N.C.G.E..................................................11 Inquire whether (S)he was engaged in following activities
Column - 7 Ethnic Group Passed Grade - 12......................................................................12 Except which are mentioned in question No.2
Sinhala..................................................................1 Passed G.C.E.(A/L) / H.N.C.E..................................................13
Sri Lankan Tamil..................................................2 Passed G.A.Q./G.S.Q................................................................14 * Activities as (Ploughing, Sowing, with regard to transplanting
Indian Tamil.........................................................3 Degree........................................................................................15 Rice, harvesting paddy, cultivation crops, spraying weedicide
Sri Lankan Moor..................................................4 Post Graduate Degree / Diploma...............................................16 Pesticide, fertilizing … etc.)
Malay....................................................................5 Special educational Institutions……………………………….17
Burger...................................................................6 No Schooling.............................................................................19 *All above activities with regarding(vegetable/ permanent crops/
Other.....................................................................9 Fruits/ flower( commercial purposes)
*Livestock operations/ feeding and milking animals, churning
Milk, grassing, bee keeping
Column - 8 Religion
*Making clothes, sowing pieces of cloths or leather, knitting
Buddhist ................................................................1 Embroidery, mat and rope making, ginning, spinning and
Hindu.....................................................................2 weaving
Muslim...................................................................3 Column – 10a Basic Degree
Roman Catholic. Arts 01 Indigeneous Medicine 10 *Making foods/ ice packets for selling purposes
Other Christians ..................................................4 Law 02 Paramedical Studies (1) 11
Other......................................................................9 Management 03 Engineering 12 *Selecting fish, making dried fish
Commerce 04 Fashion Design/ Transport &
Column - 9 Marital Status Medicine 05 Logistic Management 13 *Copra making, coir preparing, coir yarn spinning, cadjan
Dental Surgery 06 Architecture/ Quantity Weaving, coconut husk crushing, cinnamon crushing
Never Married........................................................1 Veterinary Medicine 07 Surveying (2) 14 Beedi making
Married...................................................................2 Agriculture 08 Computer Science/IT (3) 15
Widowed................................................................3 Science 09 Other 19
Divorced.................................................................4
Separated................................................................5
Personal Information
5 Years and above 10 years and above

Relationship between head

Age (as at last Birthday )


Literacy

then the Basic Degree


Birth year and Month
Name of the Individuals who usually live here

Current Education
including those who are temporarily absent(include

If Q10 =15 or 16
of the household
boarders, lodgers, servants, etc. and exclude
Serial Number

Marital Status
Male/ Female

Educational
temporary visitors)

Attainment
Sinhala Tamil English

Religion

Status
Race
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10a 11 12 13 14
Year Month Years
01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20
For all person 15 Years and above

Disability Education/ Training


Do you Do you Do you Do you Do you Using your Do you attend any
have have have have have usual formal/ informal
Name of the Individuals who usually live here difficulty difficulty difficulty difficulty difficulty language, education/ training
including those who are temporarily absent(include seeing, hearing, walking or rememberi with self- do you in previous 12
boarders, lodgers, servants, etc. and exclude even if even if climbing ng or care? have months? (If Column 15, 16, 17,
temporary visitors) wearing using a steps? concentrati difficulty currently attend any 18, 19, 20 –
Serial Number

glasses? hearing ng? communic formal/ informal Disability Conditions


aid? ating? education/ training
mention “Yes” )
1.Yes
2. No
1 2 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Cannot do anything 1
01 Have major difficulties 2
02 Have miner difficulties 3
03 No difficulties 4
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Information on Labour Force (Age 15 years and above) exclude persons who are presently abroad

01. (a) Name of the Person


............................................... ................................................ ................................................. ........................................................

(b) Serial No.

02. Were you Engaged, last week, even for a few hours in paid
employment, own account profitable work or contributing
family work as an economic activity (including employer)
(If it is not possible to identify the person as being engaged Yes 1 1 1 1
in a specific economic activity, inquire whether (S)he was No 2 2 Go to Q 4 2 2
Go to Q 4 Go to Q 4 Go to Q 4
engaged in an activity specified in page 4 of the questionnaire

03. During last week on what activity you were engaged in?
1. The main economic activity ........................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Another economic activity ............................................................ 2 Go to Q 7 2 Go to Q 7 2 Go to Q 7 2 Go to Q 7
3. The main economic activity and Another economic activity ........ 3 3 3 3
04. Even if you were not engaged in any of the above economic
activity during last week, did you have an economic activity Yes 1 1 1 1
to be engaged in? No Go to Q 6 2 Go to Q 6 2 Go to Q 6 2 Go to Q 6
2
05.Why were you not involving work during last week?
(circle the most appropriate code)
1. Off season/Bad weather ......................................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Temporary stopping economic activity
(disorganization, suspension of work , mechanical/ electrical ........ 2 2 2 2
breakdown, Shortage of raw material/ equipment/ workers,
financial difficulties, strikes, no works
3 Go to Q 7 3 Go to Q 7 3 Go to Q 7 3 Go to Q 7
3. Sick/Injury/personal ................................................................................
4. Leave/holiday/ vacation/educational leave or training ........................... 4 4 4 4
5. Personal/ family needs ............................................................................ 5 5 5 5
9. Others (specify) ....................................................................................... 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 ……………………
06. (a) Were you engaged in one or more of the following . . . .Go to Q 6(b)
activities during last week? 1 Go to Q 6(b) 1 Go to Q 6(b) 1 Go to Q 6(b) 1
Yes
(Purchasing firewood is not relevant here. If firewood/ No 2 Go to Q 47 2 Go to Q 47 2 Go to Q 47 2 Go to Q 47
Water is only brought from outside, specify the time spent)

Time spent Time spent Time spent Time spent


(hrs.) (hrs.) (hrs.) (hrs.)
(b) Activities
1. bringing firewood for home(own) consumption .............................. 1 1 1 Go to 1 Go to
Go to Go to
2. Bringing water from outside for home(own) consumption ............. 2 Q 47 2 Q 47 2 Q 47 2 Q 47
3. Engaging in a repairing working in own house or building ............ 3 3 3 3
Serial No.

07. What is the main economic activity, you are engaged in ?


Describe the main activities relevant to this economic activity
(occupation)
* * * *
08. What is the main production activity/ service/activity which is relevant to
the work you are engaged in, at your institution or enterprise/ your place of
work? (Industry)
* * * *

08A. What is the District your institution or enterprise locate? `

* * * *
09. Status in Employment
1. Employee 1 1 1 1
2. Employer 2 2 2 2
3. Own account worker 3 →Go To Q 15 3 →Go To Q 15 3 →Go To Q 15 3 →Go To Q 15
4. Contributing Family Worker 4 4 4 4

Only for paid Employees ( If Q.9=1) Only for Q 9=1 Only for Q 9=1 Only for Q 9=1 Only for Q 9=1
10. Is your employment permanent/ temporary/ casual ?
1 . Permanent 1 1 1 1
2. Temporary 2 2 2 2
3. Casual 3 3 3 3
4. No permanent employer 4 → Go to Q 15 4 → Go to Q 15 4 → Go to Q 15 4 → Go to Q 15
11. Is your employer contributing to a pension scheme or provident fund
on your behalf ?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No.............................................. 2 2 2 2
Do not know............................. 3 3 3 3
12. Are you entitled for annual paid leave or leave encashment?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No.............................................. 2 2 2 2
Do not know............................. 3 3 3 3
13. Do you have an appointment letter (written contract) from your
employer ?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No.............................................. 2 2 2 2
Do not know............................. 3 3 3 3
14. To which sector the institution where you work belongs?
1. Government.................................................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Semi Government ......................................................................... 2 } Go to Q 20
2 } Go to Q 20
2 } Go to Q 20 2 } Go to Q 20
3. Private............................................................................................ 3 3 3 3
* For office use only
Serial No.

For persons with Q10= 4 , Q14= 3 or Q9= 2, 3 or 4 For persons with Q10=4 For persons with Q10=4 For persons with Q10=4 For persons with Q10=4
Q14=3or Q9=2,3or 4 Q14=3or Q9=2,3or 4 Q14=3or Q9=2,3or 4 Q14=3or Q9=2,3or 4
15. Is your institution of work/ your business or enterprise yes 1 1 1 1
(agricultural/ non-agricultural) registered under employees No 2 2 2 2
provident fund or Inland Revenue Department ? Do not know 3 3 3 3

16. How does your institution of work/ your business or enterprise (agricultural/
non-agricultural) maintain account recording system?
1. Formal............................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Informal............................................................ 2 2 2 2
3. No account recording system........................... 3 3 3 3
4. Do not know..................................................... 4 4 4 4
17. What is the total number of regular employees, employed at your Institution of
work/ your Institution?
1. Less than 5 ........................................................................................ 1 1 1 1
2. 5 to 9 .............................................................................................. 2 2 2 2
3. 10 to 15 ............................................................................................ 3 3 3 3
4. 16 to 49 .......................................................................................... 4 4 4 4
5. 50 to 99 .......................................................................................... 5 5 5 5
6. 100 or more ..................................................................................... 6 6 6 6
7. No paid employees/ regular employees ........................................... 7 7 7 7
8. Working for household .................................................................... 8 → Go to Q 20 8 → Go to Q 20 8 → Go to Q 20 8 → Go to Q 20

18. What is the legal status of your institution of work/ your business or enterprise?
1. Publicly Listed/ Limited liability/ Registered corporative 1 1 1 1
2. Individual business/ partnership with members of household 2 2 2 2
3. Ordinary partnership with members of other household 3 3 3 3
9. Other (specify) …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 ……………………
19. Does the products/ .services of your institute sell or barter . . . .
1. Yes ................................................. 1 1 1 1
2. No ................................................. 2 2 2 2
3. Do not know .................................. 3 3 3 3
Serial No.

20. What is the number of hours you usually worked at this occupation work per
week? Hours Hours Hours Hours

21. What is the number of hours you actually worked at this occupation during the
reference period ? Hours Hours Hours Hours

22. If Q 21 < Q 20 then go to Q 23. Otherwise go to Q 24 If Q21< Q 20 then go to If Q21< Q 20 then go to If Q21< Q 20 then go to If Q21< Q 20 then go to
Q 23. Otherwise Q 23. Otherwise Q 23. Otherwise Q 23. Otherwise
go to Q 24 go to Q 24 go to Q 24 go to Q 24
23. What is the reason for working fewer hours than usual ?
1. Off season/ Bad weather .................................................................................. 1 1 1 1
2. Temporary stopping economic activities in the organization
2 2 2 2
(disorganization, suspension of work, mechanical, electrical breakdown, ....
Shortage of raw material, financial difficulties, strikes
3. Could not find more work ................................................................................ 3 3 3 3
4. Temporary lay-off (lack of work) .................................................................... 4 4 4 4
5. Job started/ ended within preference period .................................................... 5 5 5 5
6. Temporary dismissed by employer ................................................................. 6 6 6 6
7. Sick / injury/ personal ..................................................................................... 7 7 7 7
8. Leave/ holyday/ vacation/ educational leave or training ................................ 8 8 8 8
9. other (specify) ................................................................................................ 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 ……………………
24. Were you engaged in a secondary occupation / economic activity in the . . . .
last week ? Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 → Go to Q 40 2 → Go to Q 40 2 → Go to Q 40 2 → Go to Q 40
25. What was your secondary occupation ?
Describe the main activities relevant to this activity.

* * * *
26. What is the main production/ service/ activity which is relevant to the
Secondary work you are engaged in, at your institution or enterprise/ your
place of work ?

* * * *
* Office use only
Serial No.

27. Status of secondary Occupation


1. Employee 1 1 1 1
2. Employer 2 2 2 2
3. Own account worker 3 3 3 3
Go to Q 33 Go to Q 33 Go to Q 33 Go to Q 33
4. Contributing Family Worker 4 4 4 4
Only for paid employees If Q 27 = 1 If Q 27 = 1 If Q 27 = 1 If Q 27 = 1
If Q 27 = 1
28. Is your employment permanent/ temporary/ casual ?
1 . Permanent 1 1 1 1
2. Temporary 2 2 2 2
3. Casual 3 3 3 3
4. No permanent employer
4 → Go to Q 33 4 → Go to Q 33 4 → Go to Q 33 4 → Go to Q 33
29. Is your employer contributing to a pension scheme or provident fund on
your behalf ?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No.............................................. 2 2 2 2
Do not know.............................
3 3 3 3
30. Are you entitled for annual paid leave or leave encashment?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No..............................................
2 2 2 2
Do not know.............................
3 3 3 3
31. Do you have an appointment letter (written contract) from your
employer ?
Yes ............................................ 1 1 1 1
No.............................................. 2 2 2 2
Do not know.............................
3 3 3 3
32. To which sector the institution where you work belongs?
1. Government.................................................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Semi Government .........................................................................
3. Private............................................................................................
2 }} →Go to Q 38.
2 } →Go to Q 38.
2 } →Go to Q 38.
2 } →Go to Q 38.

3 3 3 3
33. Is your institution of work/ your business or enterprise
(agricultural/ non-agricultural) registered under employees yes 1 1 1 1
provident fund or Inland Revenue Department ? No 2 2 2 2
Do not 3 3 3 3
know
Serial No.

34. How does your institution/business or enterprise (agricultural/


non- agricultural) Maintain account recording system?
1. Formal...................................................... 1 1 1 1
2. Informal.................................................... 2 2 2 2
3. No account recording system................... 3 3 3 3
4. Do not know............................................ 4 4 4 4
35. What is the total number of regular employees, employed at your Institution?
1. Less than 5 ........................................................................................
1 1 1 1
2. 5 to 9 ..............................................................................................
2 2 2 2
3. 10 to 15 ............................................................................................
3 3 3 3
4. 16 to 49 .......................................................................................... 4 4 4 4
5. 50 to 99 .......................................................................................... 5 5 5 5
6. 100 or more ..................................................................................... 6 6 6 6
7. No paid employees/ regular employees ........................................... 7 7 7 7
8. Working for household .................................................................... 8 →Go to Q 38 8 →Go to Q 38 8 →Go to Q 38 8 →Go to Q 38
36. What is the legal status of your institution/ business or enterprise?
1. Publicly Listed/ Limited liability/ Registered corporative 1 1 1 1
2. Individual business/ partnership with members of household 2 2 2 2
3. Ordinary partnership with members of other household 3 3 3 3
9. Other (specify) …………………… 9 9 9 9
…………………… …………………… …………………… ……………………
.
37. Does the products/ services of your institute sell or barter . . . .
1. Yes ................................................. 1 1 1 1
2. No ................................................. 2 2 2 2
3. Do not know .................................. 3 3 3 3

38. What is the number of hours you usually work per week?
Hours Hours Hours Hours

39. What is the number of hours you actually worked at this occupation during
the reference period ? Hours Hours Hours Hours
For all persons who are employed and age 15 and above
Serial No.

40.
Less →Go to Less →Go to Less →Go to Less →Go to
than 35 Q41 than 35 Q41 than 35 Q41 than 35 Q 41
(a) Total No. of hours in Q 20 and Q 38 (state).................................
35 & 35 & 35 & 35 &
→Go to →Go to →Go to →Go to
over over over over
Q 40(b) Q 40(b) Q 40(b) Q 40(b)

Less →Go to Q Less →Go to Less →Go to Less →Go to Q


(b) Total No. of hours in Q 21 and Q 39 (state)................................. than 35 40(c) than 35 Q 40(c ) than 35 Q 40(c ) than 35 40(c )
(b) Total No. of hours in Q 20 and Q 38 (state)................................. 35 & →Go to 35 & →Go to 35 & →Go to 35 & →Go to
over Q 45 over Q 45 over Q 45 over Q 45

Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to
(c) ..................................................................................................... code 1 Q 41 code 1 Q 41 code 1 Q 41 code 1 Q 41
Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to Q 23 → Go to
code 2 - 9 Q 45 code 2 - 9 Q 45 code 2 - Q 45 code 2 - 9 Q 45
9
41. Would you like to work, if you are given an opportunity to
work during a longer period (than you usually work ....... hours )
(i) in the present occupation/ economic activity.
(ii) in another occupation in addition to the present occupation
(iii) engaging yourself fully in another occupation Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 → Go to Q 45 2 → Go to Q 45 2 → Go to Q 45 2 → Go to Q 45
42. If so, how would you like to work?
1. In the present occupation 1 1 1 1
2. In another occupation in addition to the present occupation 2 2 2 2
3. Fully in another occupation 3 3 3 3
4. Any of the above 4 4 4 4
43. How many extra hours you would be able to work, in addition to those
Hours Hours Hours Hours
you usually work per week ?
44. As mentioned above, are you ready to work on these extra
hours, if you get an opportunity within next two weeks? Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 2 2 2
For all employed persons aged 15 and above
Serial Number

45. Are you an employee in the main occupation? Yes 1 1 1 1


No 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c)

For month salary earners:


(a) (i) Gross salary for last month (Rs.) (including all allowances)
(ii) Additional earnings during last month (Rs.) (overtime payment etc.)
(iii) Income in kind (if there is any) (Rs.)

For daily wage earners :


(b) (i) Daily wage (Rs.)
(ii) Number of days worked last month
(iii) Total income (Rs.)
(iv) Income in kind (if there is any ) (Rs.)

For employers and own account workers :


(excluding contributing family workers)
(c) (i) Monthly income (Rs.)

46. Are you an employee in the secondary occupation? Yes 1 1 1 1


No 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c) 2 → Go to (c)

No secondary occupation ……………………………………………… 3 → Go to Q 62 3 → Go to Q 62 3 → Go to Q 62 3 → Go to Q 62

For month salary earners:


(a) (i) Gross salary for last month (Rs.) (including all allowances)
(ii) Additional earnings during last month (Rs.) (overtime payment etc.)
(iii) Income in kind (if there is any) (Rs.)

For daily wage earners :


(b) (i) Daily wage (Rs.)
(ii) Number of days worked last month
(iii) Total income (Rs.)
(iv) Income in kind (if there is any ) (Rs.)

For employers and own account workers :


(excluding contributing family workers)
(c) (i) Monthly income (Rs.)
Go to Q 62 Go to Q 62 Go to Q 62 Go to Q 62
For all persons aged 15 and above other than Employed persons (persons answered 1 or 2 for Q6 (a))

Serial No.

47. Would you expected to do a paid job or to start a self Yes 1 1 1 1


employment? No 2 → Go to Q 52 2 → Go to Q 52 2 → Go to Q 52 2 → Go to Q 52
2

Already got a job and ready to go / already made arrangements for → Go to Q 53


3 3 → Go to Q 53 3 → Go to Q 53 3 → Go to Q 53
self employment activity
48. Did you take any steps during the last 4 weeks to find a job
Yes 1 1 1 1
Or to start a self employment?
No 2 → Go to Q 50 2 → Go to Q 50 2 → Go to Q 50 2 → Go to Q 50
49. What are the steps taken?
(Encircle most relevant codes up to a maximum of 3)
1. Registered for a government job
1 1 1 1
2. Registered in private sector Institutions/Internet 2 2 2 2
3. Replying for advertisements in government gazette/news papers/ 3 3 3 3
Publishing advertisements
Go to Q 51 Go to Q 51 Go to Q 51 Go to Q 51
4. Inquiring from persons with public sector/ private sector job contacts/ 4 4 4 4
Friends/ relations
5. Taking action to find financial and other resources to start a self 5 5 5 5
Employment
9. Other (specify)………….. 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ……………….
50. What was the main reason for not taking any action to find a job during
The last 4 weeks (circle the most appropriate code)

1. Awaiting results of the examination/interview held for a job 1 1 1 1


2. Does not believe that (S)he gets a suitable job 2 2 2 2
3. Unable to find any work 3 3 3 3
4. Does not possess skills or training required for a job 4 4 4 4
5. Personal difficulties faced while finding a job 5 5 5 5
6. Household work 6 6 6 6
7. Educational activities 7 7 7 7
9. Other (specify)…………. 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ……………….
Serial No.

51. Are you ready to accept a job, if offered within next two weeks/ to
Start a self employment within next two weeks? Yes 1 → Go to Q 53 1 → Go to Q 53 1 → Go to Q 53 1 → Go to Q 53
No 2 2 2 2
52. What is the reason for not accepting the job in Q51 ?
1. Educational or vocational training activities 1 1 1 1
2. Household activities 2 2 2 2
3. Retired/Old age 3 →Go to Q 62 3 →Go to Q 62 3 →Go to Q 62 3 →Go to Q 62
4. Physically illness/ disabled 4 4 4 4
9. Other (specify) 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ………………. 9 ……………….
53. Do you expect a self-employment or a paid employment?
1. Self employment 1 → Go to Q 55 1 → Go to Q 55 1 → Go to Q 55 1 → Go to Q 55
2. Paid employment 2 2 2 2
3 .Any employment 3 → Go to Q 57 3 → Go to Q 57 3 → Go to Q 57 3 → Go to Q 57
54. Would you expect your job in the public sector? private sector or semi
Government sector?
1. Public sector 1 1 1 1
2. Semi Government sector 2 2 2 2
3. Private sector 3 → Go to Q 56 3 → Go to Q 56 3 → Go to Q 56 3 → Go to Q 56
4. Any sector 4 4 4 4
55. (a) If you are interested in starting a self employment, do you Yes 1 → Go to (b) 1 → Go to (b) 1 → Go to (b) 1 → Go to (b)
Expect any help from the Government/ Other institution for No 2 → Go to Q 56 2 → Go to Q 56 2 → Go to Q 56 2 → Go to Q 56
Basic needs ?

(b) What type of assistance do you expect? (maximum 3 options only)


1. Getting a loan facility 1 1 1 1
2. An institution/ a person to seek the necessary knowledge 2 2 2 2
3. Facilities to sell the production 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4
4. Capital resources such as land/machinery
5 5 5 5
5. Not decided yet
9 9 9 9
9. Other (specify) ………………. ………………. ………………. ……………….
56. Describe the nature of the occupation/ economic activity/ self employment
That you like to be engaged in

Code * Code * Code * Code *


* For office use only
Serial No.

57. What is the minimum monthly salary/income that you expect through

The employment/business? (Rs.)

58. How long have you been looking for work?


1. Less than 6 months
2. Between 6 - 12 months 1 1 1 1
3. One year or more 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3
59. Have you ever been engaged in a paid job or self employment or
Family work continuously for 2 weeks
Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 → Go to Q 62 2 → Go to Q 62 2 → Go to Q 62 2 → Go to Q 62
60. What are your main activities of that job/work?

60a. Occupation * Code * Code * Code * Code

60b. Industry * Code * Code * Code * Code

61. Status of your Occupation


1. Employee
1 1 1 1
2. Employer 2 2 2 2
3. Own account worker 3 Go to Q 62 3 Go to Q 62 3 Go to Q 62 3 Go to Q 62
4. Contributing Family Worker 4 4 4 4
* for office use only
For all persons aged 15 and above
Serial No.

62. Have you successfully completed a formal professional/


Technical training, relevant to an occupation/ Yes 1 1 1 1
self-employment No 2 → Go to Q 64 2 → Go to Q 64 2 → Go to Q 64 2 → Go to Q 64
63. (a) Training (1)
(i) Name of the training
(state the highest stage passed, if relevant)
(ii) Field of training * * * *
(iii) Nature of the certificate received: Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7
1. General Certificate 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
2. Diploma Certificate 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
3. Higher Diploma or above Higher Diploma Certificate 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6
(iv) Institution (the institution that offered the qualification)
(v) Duration : (in months) ………………. * ………………… * ……………………. * …………………. *
(if not defined mention 00)

(a) Training (2)


(i) Name of the training
(state the highest stage passed, if relevant)
(ii) Field of training
* * * *
(iii) Nature of the certificate received: Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7 Non NVQ NVQ 1- 4 NVQ 5- 7

1. General Certificate 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
2. Diploma Certificate 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
3. Higher Diploma or above Higher Diploma Certificate 5 6 5 6 5 6 5 6

(iv) Institution (the institution that offered the qualification) ……………….. * ……………... * ………………… * ………………… *
(v) Duration : (in months)
(if not defined mention 00) . End End End End
64. What was the reason for not having such a formal professional/ technical
Training (circle the most appropriate code)
1. Thinking that the current higher educational qualifications are sufficient
For having a job ……………………………………………………….. 1 1 1 1
2. Does not feel the need of having such training to find a job…………… 2 2 2 2
3. Financial difficulties to get a suitable formal training………………..... 3 3 3 3
4. Unavailability of training projects or institutions to get a proper training 4 4 4 4
In their living area ……………………………………………………..
5 5 5 5
5. No confidence about the institutions in their area……………………….
6 6 6 6
6. Currently having a training/ studying at school ………………………..
7. Does not feel the need…………………………………………………. 7 7 7 7
8. No training provided from the working institute………………………. 8 8 8 8
9. Could not receive training due to job activities………………………... 9 9 9 9
10. Other (specify)………………………………………………………… 10 10 10 10
* for office use only
Digital Literacy ( For all persons aged 5 and above )
Person serial number and name according to labour force schedule

C 01. Do you have the following digital devices (Communication devices), If yes, then Device available Number Device available Number Device available Number Device available Number
how many? Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

(1)Desktop ……………………………………………………………. 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------


(2)Laptop ……………………………………………………….…….. 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------
(3)Tablet ……………………………………………………………... 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------
(4)Mobile Phone (Smart) ………………………………………….…. 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------
(5)Mobile Phone (Non -Smart) ………………………………………. 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------
(6)Other ………………………………………………………………. 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 --------------------- 1 2 ---------------------

C 02. Are you aware about the activities done by the computer? ( Maximum 3 Yes 1 1 1 1
Options) No 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05

(1) Educational activities ………………………………………….. 1 1 1 1


(2) Economic activities ……………………………………………. 2 2 2 2
(3) Entertainment activities ………………………………………... 3 3 3 3
(4) Internet/ E-mail facilities ……………………………………… 4 4 4 4
(5) Other (specify) ………………………………………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 ……………………
C 03. Can you do some activity using a computer? Yes 1 ……. 1 ……. 1 ……. 1 …….
What purposes? ( Maximum 3 options) No 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05 2 → Go to C 05

(1) Educational activities ………………………………………….. 1 1 1 1


(2) Economic activities ……………………………………………. 2 2 2 2
(3) Entertainment activities ………………………………………... 3 3 3 3
(4) Internet/ E-mail facilities ……………………………………… 4 4 4 4
(5) Other (specify) ………………………………………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 …………………… 9 ……………………
C 04. How did you get computer knowledge? ( Maximum 5 options)
……. ……. …….
(1) Followed a private computer course (6) From family members 1 6 1 6 1 6 1 6
(2) School/ University (7) From friends/relations 2 7 2 7 2 7 2 7
(3) Government resource centers (8) Self study 3 8 3 8 3 8 3 8
(4) Job related activities (9) Using media 4 9 4 9 4 9 4 9
(5) Training given from the office (10)Other 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10
C 05. Can you do some activity using a smart phone/Tablet? Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 2 2 2
C 06. Did you use email at least once during last 12 months? Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 2 2 2
C 07. Did you use internet at least once during last 12 months? Yes 1 1 1 1
No 2 → Go to next person 2 → Go to next person 2 → Go to next person 2 → Go to next person
C 08. Which device did you use to connect to internet/ email? (Maximum 4 options)
(1) Computer (Desktop/Laptop) (3) Tablet 1 → Go to 3 1 → Go to 3 1 → Go to 3 1 → Go to 3
(2) Smart Phone (4) Mobile Phone 2 C 09 4 2 C 09 4 2 C 09 4 2 C 09 4
C 09. Where did you use internet during last 12 months? (Maximum 3 options)
(1) At office (5) School/ University 1 4 1 4 1 4 1 4
(2) At home (6) Government provided 2 5 2 5 2 5 2 5
(3) At friend’s/relative's home “Nenasala”, “Vidatha”, 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6
(4) At a private institute “Vishwaghana”,
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022

Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey


Annual Report

The Vision of DCS The Mission of DCS

“To be the leader in the region in producing timely statistical “Making contribution in the socioeconomic development of the country by
information to achieve the country’s development goals.” providing accurate timely statistics, more Effectively by means of new
technology, and utilising the services of dedicated staff under a strategic
leadership to become a prosperous nation in the globalised environment.”

Department of Census & Statistics info@statistics.gov.lk This publication is produced by the Sample Survey Division
Sankyana Mandiraya +94 11-2147000 7th floor, Department of Census and Statistics
No. 306/71, Polduwa Road +94 11-2147011 sample.survey@statistics.gov.lk
Battaramulla statistics.gov.lk +94 11-2147458 +94 11-2147447

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