Lack of job opportunities, major reason for regional poverty - Survey

by Anushka Nanayakkara

The lack of job opportunities for rural youth is a major reason for regional poverty. This was revealed in a Socio Economic Security Survey (SES) conducted by the University of Colombo.

The tsunami disaster and conflicts related to poverty show the areas with major financial problems that need the immediate attention of the relevant authorities or organisations.

Director, Social Policy Analysis and Research Centre University of Colombo Prof. Siri Hettige said that in the SES regional variation of poverty is clearly seen in the urban sector 5%, rural plantations 11% and others 15% below the national poverty line.

Prof. Hettige said according to the research conducted most of the wage earners are in the private sector, formal and informal 70%. He also said the unemployment rate among males is 11% whereas the female unemployment rate is 20%.

The survey focused mainly on four districts Colombo, Hambanthota, Kurunegala and Nuwara Eliya. The main finding of the Socio-Economic Security Survey are that in all districts, a large majority of household income is inadequate to meet essential needs such as food expenditure 61%, education 69.3% and healthcare 61.2%.

The survey also shows that a large proportion are wage earners (57.2%) and self-employed workers (41.0%).

Meanwhile an ILO survey was also conducted in Colombo, Gampaha and the Kaluthara districts in the Western Province and the Kurunagala district in the Wayamba province and Rathnapura district in the Sabaragamuwa province.

The research result has been compared to international standards due to the international methodology which is being practised by other countries.

The Socio-Economic Security(SEC) and Enterprises Labour Flexibility and Security(ELFS) surveys are financed by the ILO under its Socio Economic Security Programme.