Sri Lanka, Oct. 6 -- Sri Lanka's unemployment rate has risen to 4.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026, while the labour force participation rate has risen to 50 percent, the Census and Statistics Department said in its latest Labour Force Survey bulletin.
The Department estimated the number of unemployed people at 340,240. The rate was 3.7 percent in the first quarter of 2026 and 4.0 percent in the second quarter of 2026.
Women and young people recorded the highest unemployment.
The female rate was 6.1 percent, against 2.8 percent for males. Among those aged 15 to 24, the rate was 17.8 percent, the highest of any age group. Unemployment was highest among those with GCE Advanced Level qualifications or above, at 6.7 percent.Learn Hind...