Drop in Lanka's jobless rate [April 05 2011]

Sri Lanka's unemployment rate fell from 4.9 to 4.5 percent in the fourth quarter 2010, Department of Census & Statistics said.

This latest data was released after surveys were conducted by the department in October, November and December 2010. The survey was not conducted in the Northern Province. The unemployment rate in 2009 was 5.7 percent.

Overall unemployment rate reported for female was 7.3 percent and it was 2.9 percent for male. Youth unemployment rate 15 – 24 yrs reported for fourth quarter 2010 was 18.1. Highest unemployment rate was reported from age group 15 – 24 yrs, for both males (15.1) and females (23.4). Further the survey results revealed that the unemployment was severe among females than that of males, in all age groups.

The highest unemployment rate was reported from the G.C.E (A/L) and above group which was about 10.8 percent. There were 7.5 percent and 14.5 percent for males and females respectively. This shows the problem of unemployment is more acute in the case of educated females than educated males, statistics office said.