A Study on the Relationship between Youth Unemployment and Unskilled Labor Migration in the Coastal Belt (with reference to Negombo Divisional secretariat)

Abstract

Since unemployment is the main issue of the Sri Lankan economy. As a result of the unemployment pressure, labor migration has become a modern trend among young population. Foreign employment opportunities have continuously helped to reduce the domestic youth unemployment pressure in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka government is promoting foreign employment after 1977 by way of introducing a policy conductive to creating an environment for promotional activity. Migration for employment abroad is not embedded in a grand strategy for economic development but migration of unskilled workers may have affected to increase house hold income because there is a huge difference between wages of labors among developing nation and developed nations. The main objective of this research is to identify how unskilled labor migration has become a cause to reduce unemployment in Sri Lanka. specific objectives of this research is to examine impacts of unemployment reference to coastal area people, identify the push factors of the labor migration and identify effective sectors which increase their life standards after migration. This study has been carried out through qualitative approach conducted using both primary and secondary data. To collect the primary data questionnaire method and interview method were used. Many sources are used to collect the secondary data such as journals, research, reports, published and unpublished books, online sources. To analyze collected data descriptive analyzing method were used. According to the research findings considerable number of the youth has migrated through the illegal patterns. There is a life threat to migrants in illegal migration. Some of them has become victims of human smugglers. We can identify both positive and negative impacts relating to the unskilled labor migration. Unskilled youth migration may influence domestic economy. The necessity of clear policies to reduce youth unemployment and reforms in the education and vocational training can be mentioned as suggestions of this study