Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekhar has said that the unemployment rate in Jaffna district is higher than the national average.
The minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the trade union event held at the Jaffna District Secretariat on Saturday. He also mentioned that there is a need to focus more on creating jobs for the youth and young women in the country that suit their educational qualifications, skills and potential.
The minister pointed out that while unemployment is around 3.4 percent nationwide, it is around 6.7 percent in Jaffna district. This difference has again brought into focus the need for employment generation in the Northern Province.
The Minister is of the opinion that the number of unemployed youth should not be seen as a mere statistic. Unemployment can directly affect the income of families and the future plans of the youth.
It has been observed for a long time that many young people educated in Jaffna go to other parts of the country and abroad in search of suitable jobs. Thus there is a need to increase business opportunities within the district and strengthen local economic activities.
Events such as trade fairs can help bridge this gap somewhat by bringing together young job seekers and employers in one place. But continuous job creation and skill development programs can be more beneficial in the long run than one-day industrialization.
The need to increase women’s labor force participation
Looking at the labor market of Jaffna district, the minister also said that there is a significant difference in labor force participation between men and women.
According to his information, while about 68 percent of men are engaged in the profession, the labor force participation of women remains at about 32 percent. Thus increasing employment for women will be important in future economic growth.
Although women have advanced in education and professional skills, opportunities to use those skills in income-generating economic activities are not always available. Various factors such as family responsibilities, workplace facilities, transportation and lack of suitable employment opportunities may affect women’s labor force participation.
Therefore, it is necessary not only to create suitable employment opportunities for women, but also to create an environment where they can continue to work. Women can be given more opportunities especially in office work, technical sector, small and medium enterprises, service sector and work from home.
When women’s skills become an economic asset, the benefits extend beyond the individual family to the entire community. As household income increases, the amount of money spent in local markets is also likely to increase.
Likewise, the link between education and industrial sector needs to be strengthened in terms of youth employment. It is important that young people looking for work after completing university education or technical education have clear guidance on the skills that are actually needed in the market.
For this, vocational training, technical education and skill development programs can be developed according to the needs of private sector companies. There is potential to create new opportunities especially in sectors such as information technology, tourism, fishing industries, agriculture, food processing and small business enterprises.
Notification of new appointments in Govt
At the same time, the Minister said that the steps have been taken to recruit more than 1 lakh 12 thousand new people in the government department.
This announcement has caught the attention of many job seekers. However, along with government appointments, there is a need to increase employment in the private sector and business ventures.
The Minister stated that the aim of the government should be to create a situation where no young man or woman in the country is without employment opportunities. It is also emphasized that everyone should get a job suitable to their education, skills and energy and become economically stronger.
Further, the minister said that the main policy of the government is to create an administration free of bribery and corruption, and to use public resources sparingly and responsibly.
Joblessness in Jaffna is higher than the national level which is an important factor to focus on the economic status of the district. This situation can be changed by increasing the labor force participation of youth and women in particular.
While new appointments in the public sector are part of the process, private investment, new business ventures and local resource-based economic activities need to grow to create sustainable employment.
If steps are taken to link the education and skills of Jaffna youth to the local economy, the need to go out for work may also be reduced. At the same time, by increasing the participation of women, the economic status of families is also likely to improve.
Thus, the unemployment rate of 6.7 percent in Jaffna is not just a statistic, but a matter that should be taken into account in the future economic planning of the district.