2018年-世界发展银行全球_The_State_of_Jobs_in_Post-Conflict_Areas_of_Sri_Lanka_38页_1mb

The State of Jobs in Post-Conflict Areas of Sri Lanka

Core Content

This paper analyzes the labor market conditions in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, which have been heavily impacted by decades of conflict. Despite the country's overall economic progress, these regions continue to experience significant poverty and lower labor force participation rates compared to the rest of Sri Lanka.

Main Findings

• Low Labor Force Participation: The Northern and Eastern provinces have significantly lower labor force participation rates (46% and 44%) compared to the national average of 53%. This is primarily due to low female employment rates, which are much lower than in other regions.
• Wage Levels: Wages in these provinces are similar to those in other parts of the country, even though employment rates are low. This suggests that the low employment is driven more by supply-side factors (e.g., reluctance to work) than by lower wage offers.
• Sector Composition: Workers in the Northern and Eastern provinces are more likely to be employed in the service sector and less likely to be in agriculture or industry. However, their wage earnings are not significantly lower than in other provinces.
• Education and Skills: Adults in these provinces score lower on literacy and basic skills tests, which may contribute to lower productivity and weaker labor demand.
• Access to Formal Finance: Limited access to formal financial services may hinder self-employment opportunities in these regions.
• Gender Disparities: Female employment rates are significantly lower in the North and East, especially among those with less than 12 years of education. Tamil women are particularly underrepresented in the labor force.
• Marriage and Employment: Married women in the Eastern province are less likely to participate in the labor market compared to those in other regions, while the gap between married and never-married women in the Northern province is smaller.
• Youth Employment: Youth employment rates in the Northern and Eastern provinces have stagnated, with the Eastern province having the lowest rates. High school attendance and early marriage are key factors contributing to this.

Key Indicators

Key Data Sources

• Labor Force Survey (LFS): 2011–2015
• Household Income and Expenditures Survey (HIES): 2012/13
• Skills Towards Employability & Productivity Survey (STEP): 2012
• Enterprise Survey: 2011

Summary of Employment Patterns

• Female Employment: Women in the Northern and Eastern provinces are less likely to be employed than those in other regions. If their employment rates matched the national average, approximately 132,000 more women would be working in 2015.
• Youth Employment: The employment rate for youth (15–24 years) in these provinces is lower than the national average, with the Eastern province showing the most pronounced gap.
• Sector Distribution: The service sector is the largest employer in the Northern and Eastern provinces, while agriculture and industry are less prevalent.
• Wage Distribution: Median wages in the Northern and Eastern provinces are similar to other provinces, with some variations in specific sectors.

Conclusion

The paper highlights the structural challenges in the labor markets of the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, particularly the low employment rates among women and youth. It suggests that these issues are influenced by both supply-side factors (such as cultural norms and education levels) and demand-side factors (such as economic activity and sector composition). The findings emphasize the need for targeted policies to improve labor market outcomes in these regions.