LFS2022 Annualreport
LFS2022 Annualreport
LFS2022 Annualreport
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.
27 / 09 / 2023.
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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.
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
SUMMARY STATISTICS
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
IV
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
Content
Page
Preface .............................................................................................................................. Ι
Acknowledgement ............................................................................................................ ΙΙ
Summary Statistics............................................................................................................. ΙΙΙ
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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
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
List of Tables
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
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 4.11: Employment to population ratio by standardized age group & gender – 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
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
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
List of Maps
Page
Appendix
Page
Statistical Appendix 58 - 82
Alternative Estimates 89
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
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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
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER ONE
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
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
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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.
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
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER THREE
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
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
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
As shown in Table 3.3 percentage of economically Total (15 & over) 49.8 70.5 32.1
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 (%)
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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
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
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
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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
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
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.
- 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
14
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER FOUR
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
Female 93.5
- 15 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
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.
Agriculture
26.5%
Services
47.0%
Industries
26.5%
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
- 17 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
- 19 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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.
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
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
Gender
Age group
Total Male Female
22
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER FIVE
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
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%).
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)
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
5
4.7 4.8 5.5 5.1
4 4.7
4.4 4.4
4.2
3
0 Uva 11.9
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
North Central 11.1
Year
North Western 7.9
Uva 4.4
Northern 4.3
Eastern 3.9
Sabaragamuwa 3.8
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
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
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%
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
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
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.
- 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
34
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
- 35 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER SEVEN
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).
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
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
District % District %
CHAPTER EIGHT
Male 391,620
Multiple Job Holders
Female 94,540
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
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
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
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
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%
CHAPTER NINE
- 45 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
Informal
Informal
Informal
Formal
Formal
Formal
Informal Employment5.
46
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
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
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
Rural 93.2
Estate 82.2
Who is 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
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
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
- 51 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
52
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
CHAPTER ELEVEN
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
- 53 -
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
English
- 55 -
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%
- 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
Table 2A - Labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age - Male
Table 2B - Labour force status (current) of the household population 15 years of age and over, by age -
Female
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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
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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
Table 5A - Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) - Male
Table 5B - Historical table of currently employed persons by employment status (percentage) - Female
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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
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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
Table 6D - Historical table of currently employed population by major industry group (percentage) - Both
sexes
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)
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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
3 Technicians and associate professionals 8 Plant and machine operators and assemblers
5 Services and sales workers 0 Armed forces occupations & unidentified occupations
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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
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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
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.
70
Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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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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)
These figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
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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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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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These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation) values are high.
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Table 17 - Currently employed persons by hours per week actually worked at the main job by district - Both
sexes
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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
These Figures are to be treated with caution as the corresponding CV (Coefficient of variation)
values are high.
.. 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
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.
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.
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.
(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.
9 NEET
Youths (age 15-24 population) not in employment, education or training.
Youth 15-24
Non-NEET
Employed Unemployed Inactive NEET (Who are in Education
or Training)
Non-NEET
Unemployed NEET (Who are in Education
or Training
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
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
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.
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
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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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.
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.
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
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
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Labour Force Survey - Annual Report 2022
ALTERNATIVE ESTIMATES
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.
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.
(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.
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Table 2 - Historical table of number and rate of unemployment by age (Alternative estimates)
Age group
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
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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
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For Office Use Only
3' District :-
Signature :- Telephone No :-
6' Sector :-
Signature :- Date :-
7' Name of M.C./U.C./P.S. :-
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
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
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*
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
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
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)
* * * *
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.
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.
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)
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
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 ?
57. What is the minimum monthly salary/income that you expect through
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
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
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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
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92