Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications

Even though Sri Lanka is a fore-runner in many human development dimensions and aspects of gender equality amongst the South Asian countries, it is similar to other South Asian countries when it comes to women's participation in economic activ...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: World Bank
Format: Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
SEX
STD
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/01/19344954/low-female-labor-force-participation-sri-lanka-contributory-factors-challenges-policy-implications
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17871
id okr-10986-17871
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
ACCESS TO SERVICES
ACCOUNTING
ADEQUATE EDUCATION
AGE COHORT
AGE GROUP
AGED WOMEN
AGGREGATE GROWTH
BOTH SEXES
CARE CENTERS
CAREGIVERS
CENSUS OF POPULATION
CHILD CARE
CHILD-CARE
CITIZENS
CIVIL WAR
CLERKS
COGNITIVE SKILLS
CONTINUING EDUCATION
DAY LABORERS
DECISION MAKING
DECLINE IN FERTILITY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEPENDENCY RATIO
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISCRIMINATION
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
DOMESTIC WORKERS
EARNINGS REGRESSION
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
EDUCATION OF WOMEN
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
ELDERLY
EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
EMPLOYMENT RATE
EMPLOYMENT RATE OF WOMEN
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
EQUALLY QUALIFIED WOMEN
FEMALE EDUCATION
FEMALE EMPLOYMENT
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS
FEMALE MIGRANTS
FEMALE POPULATION
FEMALE WORKERS
FERTILITY RATES
FINDING EMPLOYMENT
FOREIGN REMITTANCES
GENDER
GENDER ANALYSIS
GENDER DIFFERENCES
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER EQUALITY
GENDER GAP
GENDER GAPS
GENDER PARITY
GENDER SEGREGATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HIGHLY EDUCATED WOMEN
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WORK
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
INCOME EARNING
INFORMAL SECTOR
INHERITANCE
INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
INTERVENTIONS
JOB MARKET
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB SEARCH
JOB STATUS
JOB VACANCIES
JOBS
KINDERGARTEN
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR MIGRANTS
LABOR MIGRATION
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LABOUR FORCE
LABOUR SUPPLY
LEGAL STATUS
LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
LEVELS OF EDUCATION
LOW FERTILITY
MALE COUNTERPART
MALE WORKERS
MARITAL STATUS
MARRIED WOMEN
MIGRANT
MIGRANT LABOR
MIGRANT MEN
MIGRANT WORKERS
NATIONAL POPULATION
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
NUMBER OF WORKERS
NUMERACY
OCCUPATION
OCCUPATIONS
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
OLD MEN
PAID WORKERS
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
PARTICIPATION RATES
PERSONALITY
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POPULATION CHANGE
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION
PREVIOUS SECTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTORS
PRIVATE TRAINING
PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
PROBIT REGRESSION
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC LIFE
PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS
READING
REASONING
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
REMITTANCE
REMITTANCES
RESPECT
RETIREMENT
RETURNS TO EDUCATION
RURAL AREAS
RURAL LOCATIONS
RURAL WOMEN
SAFETY
SANITATION
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SCHOOL CHILDREN
SECONDARY EDUCATION
SECONDARY SCHOOL
SECONDARY SCHOOLING
SECURITY SITUATION
SELF EMPLOYED
SERVICE SECTOR
SEX
SINGLE MOTHERS
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
SKILLED OCCUPATIONS
SKILLED WORKERS
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SKILLS TRAINING
SMALL LOANS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIAL NORMS
STATUS OF WOMEN
STD
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TECHNICAL SKILLS
TERTIARY EDUCATION
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRAINING CENTERS
TRAINING COURSES
TRAINING PROGRAM
TRAINING PROGRAMS
TRANSPORTATION
UNEMPLOYED
UNEMPLOYED LABOR
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
URBAN AREAS
URBAN WOMEN
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
WAGE DATA
WAGE PREMIUM
WAGE PREMIUMS
WAGE SUBSIDY
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
WAGES
WATER SUPPLY
WOMAN
WOMEN IN LABOR
WOMEN WITH CHILDREN
WORK EXPERIENCE
WORK FORCE
WORKER
WORKERS
WORKFORCE
WORKING WOMEN
YOUNG CHILDREN
YOUNG COUPLE
YOUTH
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
spellingShingle ACCESS TO INFORMATION
ACCESS TO RESOURCES
ACCESS TO SERVICES
ACCOUNTING
ADEQUATE EDUCATION
AGE COHORT
AGE GROUP
AGED WOMEN
AGGREGATE GROWTH
BOTH SEXES
CARE CENTERS
CAREGIVERS
CENSUS OF POPULATION
CHILD CARE
CHILD-CARE
CITIZENS
CIVIL WAR
CLERKS
COGNITIVE SKILLS
CONTINUING EDUCATION
DAY LABORERS
DECISION MAKING
DECLINE IN FERTILITY
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
DEPENDENCY RATIO
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISCRIMINATION
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES
DOMESTIC WORKERS
EARNINGS REGRESSION
ECONOMIC GROWTH
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
EDUCATION OF WOMEN
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
ELDERLY
EMPLOYEE
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
EMPLOYMENT RATE
EMPLOYMENT RATE OF WOMEN
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
EQUALLY QUALIFIED WOMEN
FEMALE EDUCATION
FEMALE EMPLOYMENT
FEMALE LABOR
FEMALE LABOR FORCE
FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS
FEMALE MIGRANTS
FEMALE POPULATION
FEMALE WORKERS
FERTILITY RATES
FINDING EMPLOYMENT
FOREIGN REMITTANCES
GENDER
GENDER ANALYSIS
GENDER DIFFERENCES
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
GENDER EQUALITY
GENDER GAP
GENDER GAPS
GENDER PARITY
GENDER SEGREGATION
GENERAL EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HIGHLY EDUCATED WOMEN
HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY
HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS
HOUSEHOLD WORK
HUMAN CAPITAL
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
INCOME EARNING
INFORMAL SECTOR
INHERITANCE
INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT
INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
INTERVENTIONS
JOB MARKET
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB SEARCH
JOB STATUS
JOB VACANCIES
JOBS
KINDERGARTEN
LABOR ECONOMICS
LABOR FORCE
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION
LABOR MARKET
LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES
LABOR MARKETS
LABOR MIGRANTS
LABOR MIGRATION
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
LABOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH
LABOR SUPPLY
LABOUR
LABOUR FORCE
LABOUR SUPPLY
LEGAL STATUS
LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL OF EDUCATION
LEVELS OF EDUCATION
LOW FERTILITY
MALE COUNTERPART
MALE WORKERS
MARITAL STATUS
MARRIED WOMEN
MIGRANT
MIGRANT LABOR
MIGRANT MEN
MIGRANT WORKERS
NATIONAL POPULATION
NUMBER OF CHILDREN
NUMBER OF WORKERS
NUMERACY
OCCUPATION
OCCUPATIONS
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
OLD MEN
PAID WORKERS
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
PARTICIPATION RATES
PERSONALITY
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
POLICY MAKERS
POLICY RESEARCH
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER
POPULATION CHANGE
PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION
PREVIOUS SECTION
PRIMARY EDUCATION
PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT
PRIVATE SECTOR
PRIVATE SECTORS
PRIVATE TRAINING
PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
PROBIT REGRESSION
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
PUBLIC LIFE
PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS
READING
REASONING
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
REMITTANCE
REMITTANCES
RESPECT
RETIREMENT
RETURNS TO EDUCATION
RURAL AREAS
RURAL LOCATIONS
RURAL WOMEN
SAFETY
SANITATION
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SCHOOL CHILDREN
SECONDARY EDUCATION
SECONDARY SCHOOL
SECONDARY SCHOOLING
SECURITY SITUATION
SELF EMPLOYED
SERVICE SECTOR
SEX
SINGLE MOTHERS
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
SKILLED OCCUPATIONS
SKILLED WORKERS
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
SKILLS TRAINING
SMALL LOANS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOCIAL NORMS
STATUS OF WOMEN
STD
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
TECHNICAL SKILLS
TERTIARY EDUCATION
TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY
TRAINING CENTERS
TRAINING COURSES
TRAINING PROGRAM
TRAINING PROGRAMS
TRANSPORTATION
UNEMPLOYED
UNEMPLOYED LABOR
UNEMPLOYMENT
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
URBAN AREAS
URBAN WOMEN
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
WAGE DATA
WAGE PREMIUM
WAGE PREMIUMS
WAGE SUBSIDY
WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
WAGES
WATER SUPPLY
WOMAN
WOMEN IN LABOR
WOMEN WITH CHILDREN
WORK EXPERIENCE
WORK FORCE
WORKER
WORKERS
WORKFORCE
WORKING WOMEN
YOUNG CHILDREN
YOUNG COUPLE
YOUTH
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
World Bank
Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
geographic_facet South Asia
Sri Lanka
relation South Asia : human development sector discussion paper series;no. 68
description Even though Sri Lanka is a fore-runner in many human development dimensions and aspects of gender equality amongst the South Asian countries, it is similar to other South Asian countries when it comes to women's participation in economic activities. Female labor force participation has not changed much in recent decades and remained stagnant at a rate around 30 to 35 percent of working age women. This rate is much lower than one would expect given the educational attainment of the female population in Sri Lanka. In order to encourage increased women s participation in economic activities, the first condition is to understand what is keeping them out of the scene. This paper analyzes the underlying reasons behind low participation rates of women in economic activities. It also investigates the employment outcomes, occupational choice, rates of returns, and skills set of economically active women in comparison with men to identify and understand the gaps. The findings have been used to suggest potential policies and programs that can help remove some of those barriers and encourage and enable women to become more economically active in the labor market.
format Publications & Research :: Working Paper
author World Bank
author_facet World Bank
author_sort World Bank
title Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
title_short Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
title_full Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
title_fullStr Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
title_full_unstemmed Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications
title_sort low female labor force participation in sri lanka : contributory factors, challenges and policy implications
publisher Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/01/19344954/low-female-labor-force-participation-sri-lanka-contributory-factors-challenges-policy-implications
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17871
_version_ 1764438623226167296
spelling okr-10986-178712021-04-23T14:03:40Z Low Female Labor Force Participation in Sri Lanka : Contributory Factors, Challenges and Policy Implications World Bank ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACCESS TO RESOURCES ACCESS TO SERVICES ACCOUNTING ADEQUATE EDUCATION AGE COHORT AGE GROUP AGED WOMEN AGGREGATE GROWTH BOTH SEXES CARE CENTERS CAREGIVERS CENSUS OF POPULATION CHILD CARE CHILD-CARE CITIZENS CIVIL WAR CLERKS COGNITIVE SKILLS CONTINUING EDUCATION DAY LABORERS DECISION MAKING DECLINE IN FERTILITY DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION DEPENDENCY RATIO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES DISCRIMINATION DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES DOMESTIC WORKERS EARNINGS REGRESSION ECONOMIC GROWTH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES EDUCATION OF WOMEN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT ELDERLY EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT GROWTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES EMPLOYMENT RATE EMPLOYMENT RATE OF WOMEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EQUALLY QUALIFIED WOMEN FEMALE EDUCATION FEMALE EMPLOYMENT FEMALE LABOR FEMALE LABOR FORCE FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION FEMALE MIGRANT WORKERS FEMALE MIGRANTS FEMALE POPULATION FEMALE WORKERS FERTILITY RATES FINDING EMPLOYMENT FOREIGN REMITTANCES GENDER GENDER ANALYSIS GENDER DIFFERENCES GENDER DISCRIMINATION GENDER EQUALITY GENDER GAP GENDER GAPS GENDER PARITY GENDER SEGREGATION GENERAL EDUCATION GOVERNMENT POLICIES HIGHLY EDUCATED WOMEN HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLD SIZE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS HOUSEHOLD WORK HUMAN CAPITAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT HUMAN RESOURCES INCOME EARNING INFORMAL SECTOR INHERITANCE INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION INTERPERSONAL SKILLS INTERVENTIONS JOB MARKET JOB OPPORTUNITIES JOB SEARCH JOB STATUS JOB VACANCIES JOBS KINDERGARTEN LABOR ECONOMICS LABOR FORCE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION LABOR MARKET LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES LABOR MARKETS LABOR MIGRANTS LABOR MIGRATION LABOR PRODUCTIVITY LABOR PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH LABOR SUPPLY LABOUR LABOUR FORCE LABOUR SUPPLY LEGAL STATUS LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION LEVELS OF EDUCATION LOW FERTILITY MALE COUNTERPART MALE WORKERS MARITAL STATUS MARRIED WOMEN MIGRANT MIGRANT LABOR MIGRANT MEN MIGRANT WORKERS NATIONAL POPULATION NUMBER OF CHILDREN NUMBER OF WORKERS NUMERACY OCCUPATION OCCUPATIONS OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OLD MEN PAID WORKERS PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION RATES PERSONALITY POLICY IMPLICATIONS POLICY MAKERS POLICY RESEARCH POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER POPULATION CHANGE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN PREVIOUS DISCUSSION PREVIOUS SECTION PRIMARY EDUCATION PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT PRIVATE SECTOR PRIVATE SECTORS PRIVATE TRAINING PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS PROBIT REGRESSION PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS PUBLIC LIFE PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS READING REASONING RELIGIOUS GROUPS REMITTANCE REMITTANCES RESPECT RETIREMENT RETURNS TO EDUCATION RURAL AREAS RURAL LOCATIONS RURAL WOMEN SAFETY SANITATION SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SCHOOL CHILDREN SECONDARY EDUCATION SECONDARY SCHOOL SECONDARY SCHOOLING SECURITY SITUATION SELF EMPLOYED SERVICE SECTOR SEX SINGLE MOTHERS SKILL DEVELOPMENT SKILLED OCCUPATIONS SKILLED WORKERS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SKILLS TRAINING SMALL LOANS SOCIAL IMPACT SOCIAL NORMS STATUS OF WOMEN STD SUSTAINABLE GROWTH TECHNICAL SKILLS TERTIARY EDUCATION TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY TRAINING CENTERS TRAINING COURSES TRAINING PROGRAM TRAINING PROGRAMS TRANSPORTATION UNEMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED LABOR UNEMPLOYMENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES URBAN AREAS URBAN WOMEN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION VOCATIONAL TRAINING WAGE DATA WAGE PREMIUM WAGE PREMIUMS WAGE SUBSIDY WAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAMS WAGES WATER SUPPLY WOMAN WOMEN IN LABOR WOMEN WITH CHILDREN WORK EXPERIENCE WORK FORCE WORKER WORKERS WORKFORCE WORKING WOMEN YOUNG CHILDREN YOUNG COUPLE YOUTH YOUTH EMPLOYMENT Even though Sri Lanka is a fore-runner in many human development dimensions and aspects of gender equality amongst the South Asian countries, it is similar to other South Asian countries when it comes to women's participation in economic activities. Female labor force participation has not changed much in recent decades and remained stagnant at a rate around 30 to 35 percent of working age women. This rate is much lower than one would expect given the educational attainment of the female population in Sri Lanka. In order to encourage increased women s participation in economic activities, the first condition is to understand what is keeping them out of the scene. This paper analyzes the underlying reasons behind low participation rates of women in economic activities. It also investigates the employment outcomes, occupational choice, rates of returns, and skills set of economically active women in comparison with men to identify and understand the gaps. The findings have been used to suggest potential policies and programs that can help remove some of those barriers and encourage and enable women to become more economically active in the labor market. 2014-04-16T22:08:25Z 2014-04-16T22:08:25Z 2013-01 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2013/01/19344954/low-female-labor-force-participation-sri-lanka-contributory-factors-challenges-policy-implications http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17871 English en_US South Asia : human development sector discussion paper series;no. 68 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Working Paper South Asia Sri Lanka