Positive trends

Numerous countries around the world have proved gender parity is tied to economic development. In Sri Lanka more and more women are seeking work in non-traditional sectors, pushing the job market to adapt faster to emerging trends and making an iron-clad case for equal pay.  

The latest Everjobs Career report revealed this week that the younger generation of women in Sri Lanka’s workforce are defining careers differently by increasingly pursuing job roles that in previous generations were dominated by men. As per the report, more female applicants actively seek out job roles in the IT, telecommunication, finance, energy, utilities and healthcare industries. 

According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the estimated economically-active population of Sri Lanka was about 8.9 million in the first quarter 2015, of which 63.3% are males and 36.7% are females. Within the economically-inactive population, which also comprises everyone involved in household duties, the disequilibrium is even starker with 25.9% being males and 74.1% females. 

Looking at female labour force participation rates around the world, this suggests that there is a large untapped reservoir of female manpower that could be utilised for the development of the country, while empowering women and benefitting society as a whole, the report noted. But such an effort requires a huge adjustment from employers and female employees alike.

In Sri Lanka girls outnumber their male counterparts at secondary level education, indicating a dedication to gender equality across the social spectrum. However this has not translated into equitable employment opportunities, or wage parity between men and women.

The female unemployment rate in Sri Lanka is over two-and-a-half times that of the male rate, and almost twice the national figure. According to Government data, only 2.9% of men entering the labour market remain unemployed, while the corresponding figure for women is 7.2%. The national unemployment rate is 4.2% making it clear impediments exist for women to enter the job market.

The same Government figures indicate that education and skills do not necessarily help females secure employment – on the contrary, they could result in a lifetime of frustrations. Currently, the single largest employer of women is the agricultural sector at 33.9%, while the services sector employs around 42 percent of women, while industries employ around 24%. 

Having more women in the workplace is not only a current problem but could also be a future crisis, as Sri Lanka’s working population ages. Currently, 17% of the population is above the age of 55, while 25% is below 15 years, meaning only around 50% are believed to be in the working age group. This makes it all the more important to integrate women into the workplace. 

Trends of women seeing employment in non-traditional industries must be enthusiastically encouraged, especially when they reach child bearing age, so that they are given the flexibility to continue being part of the formal workforce. Since 52% of the population are women it will all the more necessary to improve their skills as it also filters down to the next generation. A woman employed means a healthier, happier and better educated family. Economic growth demands investment. Let us start with the women.