Publication: Determinants of Fertility, Women's Health and Employment Behavior in Sri Lanka
Date
2012-10
ISSN
Published
2012-10
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
The paper analyzes the labor market
during 1992-2009, the wartime years, and uses the findings
to help understand implications for the labor market as the
economy grows and recovers from the conflict. The analysis
is primarily based on annual Labor Force Survey (LFS) data
collected by the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS)
between 1992 and 2009. The paper excludes the North and East
from the analysis because the labor market in these
provinces was functioning in atypical times, and was
affected severely by the security situation. The 2006 moving
out of poverty study conducted in conflict areas noted large
outmigration of the better off households and the reliance
on those left behind on remittances (Center for Poverty
Analysis 2006). The study also found that private sector
investment had largely dwindled in these provinces, and the
main source of jobs was public employment. Looking ahead,
over the next 15 years, demand for workers in industry is
likely to increase as rebuilding and recovery in the North
and East proceeds. In addition, demand for highly skilled
workers to meet the needs of the expanding services sector,
particularly higher-end services, will also increase.
Analyzing the empirical trends using the LFS, it is clear
that increasing female labor force participation, addressing
high youth unemployment and its causes, and addressing the
negative aspects of certain labor market regulations will be
key to meeting the needs of a growing economy. The paper is
organized as follows. The two sections that follow present
an overview of the supply and demand side of the labor
market. The next section discusses the ways in which the
demographic transition could shape the labor market,
particularly in terms of unemployment and earnings. This
discussion is followed by three sections examining labor
force participation and unemployment, job type, and earnings
respectively. The last section concludes with some policy recommendations.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2012. Determinants of Fertility, Women's Health and Employment Behavior in Sri Lanka. South Asia human development sector
discussion paper series;no. 38. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18011 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”