Page 45 - Labour Market Information Bulletin - 2020 Volume 01

SECTION 3 | UNEMPLOYMENT
Labour Market Information Bulletin - Volume 1/2020

SECTION - 3.1 | UNEMPLOYMENT

3.1.1 : Unemployment Trends
Section 3.1 provides information on unemployment, unemployment rate, expected employment type of unemployed
persons and unemployment by age categories in the country. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey, conducted by
the Department of Census & Statistics has provided the inputs to this section.

Table 3.1.1.1: Number Unemployed & Unemployment Rate - 2020 (Jan - June)**

Year No. Unemployed Unemployment Rate
2005* 523,676 7.2
2006* 493,440 6.5
2007* 447,021 6.0
2008* 394,009 5.2
2009* 432,852 5.7
2010* 374,748 4.9
2011* 307,951 4.0
2012* 293,719 3.9
2013* 344,603 4.3
2014* 380,554 4.3
2015** 383,496 4.7
2016** 362,999 4.4
2017** 358,507 4.2
2018** 372,593 4.4
2019** 411,318 4.8
2019(Jan - June)** 470,765 5.6
Source : Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Department of Census & Statistics
* Excluding Northern and Eastern provinces
** All Island
Note:
In 2005, Quarterly Labour Force Survey was not conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics due to absence of sample
frame in the tsunami affected area. However, a special survey was conducted covering the entire country.
As shown in table 3.1.1.1, the unemployment rate (considering all island) increased to 5.6 percent during the first
half of 2020 from 4.8 percent recorded in the first half of 2019.

Table 3.1.1.2: Unemployment Rate by Gender Graph 3.1.1.2: Percentage Distribution of
- 2020(Jan - June)** Unemployed Population by Gender in 1st
half of 2020

Year Male Female Total
2005* 5.3 10.7 7.2
2006* 4.7 9.7 6.5
2007* 4.3 9.0 6.0
2008* 3.6 8.0 5.2
2009* 4.3 8.2 5.7
2010* 3.5 7.5 4.9
2011* 2.7 6.3 4.0
2012* 2.8 5.8 3.9
2013* 3.2 6.2 4.3
2014* 3.1 6.5 4.3
2015** 3.0 7.6 4.7
2016** 2.9 7.0 4.4
2017** 2.9 6.5 4.2
2018** 3.0 7.1 4.4 As shown in table 3.1.1.2, the unemployment rate
among females was relatively higher than that of males.
2019** 3.3 7.4 4.8 Furthermore, both males and females unemployment
8.9
Source : Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Department of Census & Statistics 5.6 rates were increased notably in the first half of 2020
3.9
2019(Jan - June)**
* Excluding Northern and Eastern provinces compared to the first half of 2019.
** All Island
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