Sri Lanka’s female unemployment on the rise

Aug 06, 2018 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's unemployment in the first quarter of 2018, rose to 4.



5 percent, up from 4.1 percent a year earlier, with female unemployment up to 7.



4 percent in the quarter from 6.5 percent in 2017, official data shows. The estimated economically active population is about 8.

3 million in the first quarter 2018. Of which 65.4 percent are males and 34.6 percent are females. The economically inactive population is about 7.

7 million. Out of the economically inactive population 25.

6 percent are males and 74.4 percent are females. The highest unemployment rate is reported from the G.C.E (A/L) and above group which is about 9.

5 percent. Corresponding percentages are 5.0 percent and 14.1 percent for males and females respectively.

Female unemployment rates are higher than those of males in all levels of education. "The problem of unemployment is more acute in the case of educated females than educated males, which was observed consistently over the results of previous survey rounds as well," the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) said.



The highest participation rate for male is reported from age group 40—44 years (97.

0%), while that for female is reported from 45—49 age group (48.8%).