Unemployment and Vocational Training (A study of the Sri Lankan Experience)

Abstract

As a result of globalization, today the world is changing rapidly. This is not limited to any particular country. Therefore, Sri Lanka also has to adapt to the changes in the global environment. In this case vocational training plays a vital role in connection with employment. Although, in Sri Lanka there were a lot of unemployed after independence, it gradually decreased in the last few decades. Traditional educational system has been a major reason for unemployment as well as youth unrest in the country as we have seen in 1971 and 1987 – 1989. There is a clear contrast between the educational system and employment opportunities in Sri Lanka. Gradually employment opportunities in the governmental sector decreased. Therefore, there was a tendency of seeking jobs in private sector even though there is a great competition to obtain jobs in the private sector. To get through this competition vocational training is a very important qualification. Therefore a lot of unemployed tended to follow vocational training courses. E ventually the u nemployed who followed vocational training increased. The number of unemployed with vocational training has become a major problem in Sri Lanka. In this background, a study of unemployment and the impact of vocational training on unemployment in Sri Lanka addressed a major problem. Analysis of the Sri Lankan experience will help to formulate a comprehensive employment policy based on meaningful vocational training programmes. In the analysis of that issue time series data and cross sectional data were used in this research. Secondary data were gathered by reports, electronic and written media. Through data analysis, it was discovered that there exists a wide gap between the vocational training programmes offered by the different agencies and vocational training required by the private sector companies. That is because; the vocational training is not matched with the demand of jobs. The above mentioned facts show that the unemployment related to vocational training in Sri Lanka has been a major problem. It is necessary to pay attention to the nature of this problem and find a solution for it, based on the Sri Lankan experience.