Creating quality jobs that offer adequate wages and comprehensive social protection are essential for achieving inclusive growth in the country, says Dr Nisha Arunatilake

21 November 2024

IPS Director of Research, Dr Nisha Arunatilake, pointed out that creating decent jobs plays a significant role in supporting the country’s economic recovery. She said that many households across the country are facing challenges related to economic pressures and food insecurity, while the economy continues to experience a decline in labour force participation. Improving agricultural productivity and creating quality jobs are important for inclusive development, she added.

Dr Arunatilake also addressed the employment disparities in the country for inclusive growth. She noted that only 6.3% of jobs are decent jobs, and they are mostly available for skilled workers living in the Western province. She pointed out that a significant proportion of the workforce are in roles with relatively low income and limited prospects to improve their livelihoods. A significant portion (about 30%) of the workforce in each province other than the Western Province are working in agriculture. To improve the livelihoods of these workers, she said that it is important to boost agricultural productivity. Also, strengthening connections between rural and urban markets is essential for providing better opportunities for these agricultural products, she added.

Dr Arunatilake indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture has already initiated many projects and programmes to improve the agriculture sector. Improving agricultural productivity requires better information to understand what succeeded and what failed, as well as the reasons behind these outcomes. Such knowledge of the impact of different initiatives can help policymakers improve decision-making to facilitate agricultural productivity, Dr. Arunatilake added.

She made these remarks while taking part as a panellist at the “Livelihoods Platform Webinar: Building Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Holistic Transformation in Sri Lanka” organised by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The webinar brought together experts to discuss actionable strategies for addressing economic disparities and fostering sustainable development in Sri Lanka.