Youth unemployment hits 17.8%, rises to 22.4% among women

Sri Lanka’s youth unemployment rate stood at 17.8% in the second quarter of 2026, rising to 22.4% among young women, highlighting the challenges faced by youth in securing employment, the Census and Statistics Department said.

The department’s Labour Force Survey for April to June 2026 estimated that 150,684 people aged 15 to 24 were unemployed.

The unemployment rate among young men was 15.5%, compared with 22.4% among young women, indicating a substantial gender gap in employment opportunities for those entering the labour market.

The survey estimated the overall unemployment rate in Sri Lanka at 4%, with 340,240 people unemployed during the quarter.

Unemployment was also high among people aged 25 to 29, with the rate standing at 12.1%. The rate for women in this age group was 19.7%, compared with 7.7% among men.

The findings also showed higher unemployment rates among youth with advanced educational qualifications. The unemployment rate among those with G.C.E. Advanced Level qualifications or above was 6.7%, rising to 9.6% among women and standing at 3.9% among men.

The figures highlight the difficulties faced by youth, particularly females, in finding employment. However, the survey does not establish the specific reasons for the gender gap or the difficulties faced by educated job seekers.

Sri Lanka’s total employed population was estimated at 8.24 million in the second quarter, while the economically active population stood at approximately 8.59 million.

The overall labour force participation rate was 50%, but the gap between men and women remained significant. The participation rate was 70.3% among men and 32.7% among women aged 15 and above.

The survey, conducted across 6,250 housing units nationwide during April, May and June, defines unemployed people as those who did not work during the reference period, were available for employment and had actively sought work under the survey’s criteria.

The unemployment rate therefore refers to the proportion of the labour force without work, rather than the proportion of all young people who are unemployed.