Sri Lanka - Labor force, total

The value for Labor force, total in Sri Lanka was 8,189,249 as of 2021. As the graph below shows, over the past 31 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 8,751,857 in 2017 and a minimum value of 6,921,495 in 1992.

Definition: Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.

Source: Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database and World Bank population estimates. Labor data retrieved in September 2019.

See also:

Year Value
1990 7,228,761
1991 7,086,921
1992 6,921,495
1993 7,055,971
1994 7,216,434
1995 7,057,992
1996 7,224,898
1997 7,303,482
1998 7,883,239
1999 7,783,047
2000 7,643,112
2001 7,707,166
2002 7,766,012
2003 7,819,540
2004 7,869,647
2005 7,916,840
2006 7,944,962
2007 7,974,200
2008 8,003,756
2009 8,031,766
2010 8,057,266
2011 8,061,100
2012 8,036,731
2013 8,272,535
2014 8,284,275
2015 8,466,535
2016 8,590,445
2017 8,751,857
2018 8,495,791
2019 8,481,217
2020 8,105,653
2021 8,189,249

Statistical Concept and Methodology: The labor force is the supply of labor available for producing goods and services in an economy. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave. Data are generated with World Bank population estimates and ILO estimates on labor force participation rate. The ILO estimates are harmonized to ensure comparability across countries and over time by accounting for differences in data source, scope of coverage, methodology, and other country-specific factors. The estimates are based mainly on nationally representative labor force surveys, with other sources (population censuses and nationally reported estimates) used only when no survey data are available.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

General Comments: Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.

Classification

Topic: Labor & Social Protection Indicators

Sub-Topic: Labor force structure