Importance of Parents’ Employment Vulnerabilities on Children’s Education Performance: An Analysis of Socioeconomic Impacts

This study examines the significance of parents’ employment vulnerabilities and their impact on children’s educational performance within the Sri Lankan context. Grounded in Epstein’s framework of parental involvement and social capital theory, the research explores how employment instability, economic insecurity, and limited parental involvement influence children’s learning outcomes. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 30 Grade 9 students and their parents, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Findings reveal that parental employment type, income level, and time availability significantly affect student performance. Parents engaged in vulnerable employment—such as plantation work, informal sector labor, and self-employment—face greater difficulties in supporting their children’s education. The study emphasizes the necessity for holistic social policies, school–community partnerships, and targeted social work interventions to reduce the negative educational consequences of employment vulnerabilities.