SriLanka, Oct. 12 -- 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...