A critical study on the impact of educational levels on employment unemployment rates in sri Lanka - ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ රැකියා විරැකියා අනුපාත කෙරෙහි අධ්‍යාපන මට්ටම්වල බලපෑම පිළිබඳ විවේචනාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක්

Education is not only an essential concept for the successful existence of the younger generation and a virtuous society, but it also serves as a contributing factor in producing highly privileged citizens. Education is defined as a systematic process that enhances an individual's knowledge, skills, and attitudes (Gunasekara, 2011). As a country progresses towards developmental goals, education becomes a powerful determinant. Through the development of intelligence, personality, skills, and awareness within individuals, achieving a country’s developmental goals becomes more attainable.
Although the policy of “education for all” exists, the level of education one attains is influenced by factors such as individual abilities, preferences, income level, family, and social conditions. Educational levels can be categorized as formal, informal, and non-formal. The labor force in the country represents these diverse educational levels. The primary aim of this study is to examine the extent to which educational levels contribute to minimizing unemployment rates.
For this purpose, Matara District, which has a high unemployment rate, was selected as the study area. The sample included individuals from the University of Ruhuna, a technical college, two major schools, and self-employed representatives from Grama Niladhari divisions within the Malimbada Divisional Secretariat Division. Data was collected through a questionnaire distributed among the sample.
In the statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, regression analysis, and chi-square testing methods were used. When examining the impact of employment on individuals with no education, a strong positive correlation was observed. The analysis revealed that unemployment was higher among individuals with higher educational levels. This led to the conclusion that formal education should be tailored to match the needs of the labor market.
Factors such as the school attended and the socio-economic status of the family also appear to influence employment opportunities. It is suggested that bridging the gap between education and employment requires transforming knowledge-based education into more practical, applicable forms. Thus, an individual’s educational level can have a direct impact on either unemployment or employment.
The labor force is a determining factor in a country’s economic growth and developmental progress. When considering Sri Lanka's labor force, the percentage of the population that is unemployed is significantly high. Within the unemployment context of Sri Lanka, factors such as educational level, age, and gender contribute to noticeable variations. Various definitions have been put forward concerning structurally diverse unemployment conditions. To reduce unemployment, different strategic methods must be implemented within the economy. If educational levels can be aligned with labor market demands, Sri Lanka can potentially achieve rapid economic growth and development.