Lanka’s youth unemployment hits 20.8% in Q2 2025 – highest among all age groups

Sri Lanka’s youth unemployment rate for the second quarter of 2025 stood at 20.8%, the highest among all age groups, according to the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
The data shows that youth unemployment among males (aged 15–24) was 17.5%, while it was significantly higher among females, at 26.2%. The report notes that female unemployment remains higher than male unemployment across all age categories.
The highest unemployment rate by education level was recorded among those with G.C.E. (A/L) or higher qualifications, at 5.9%. The corresponding figures were 3.0% for males and 9.1% for females.
The survey further highlights that educated females face higher unemployment compared to their male counterparts, a trend consistent with previous survey rounds.
During the quarter, the total number of employed persons was estimated at 8.2 million, with 49% engaged in services, 25.7% in agriculture, and 25.3% in industry. Employment increased in both the agriculture and services sectors compared to the same period last year.
The overall unemployment rate for Q2 2025 was 3.8%, down from 4.7% in the corresponding quarter of 2024. The total number of unemployed persons was estimated at 318,657.
The report adds that the majority of the workforce consists of private sector employees, followed by own-account workers.