Youth unemployment is a major issue that has existed over the years in Sri Lanka. Graduates are left to queue up for jobs because they are either under-qualified or over-qualified. Due to this long wait, many local graduates have started to fly abroad to find their dream jobs and as such the education system has finally paved way to a ‘brain drain’. As a result when an institution is in need of trained professionals it has to allocate heaps of funds to bring down foreign personnel, which directly has an impact on the economy as well. How far has this gone?

Many young voices spoke to the Daily Mirror Life and stated their opinions on this issue:

Nadeeka

“This is a problem in the education system. There are enough jobs but students don’t have the necessary qualifications to apply for jobs. They have learned enough but what they have learned is not enough to fulfill the job requirements. Therefore they apply for jobs overseas and they get selected at once.”

Chamila

“The subjects that are being taught are not what is required for some jobs. Other jobs are for low salaries. A graduate spends years in university and for all that effort if they are not offered high salaries then there is no use of seeking local jobs.”

Dilhani

“I think it’s best to go abroad and get employed. Local graduates are under-estimated even if they go for interviews with stacks of certificates and recommendations. Also there is a problem about salaries. If they are paid well they will remain in the country.”

Buddhika

“I am currently following a Diploma in Physiotherapy and I have come across this issue for most of the time. The government only recruits 2 batches for the whole year while those following the diploma have to wait for years. Those having a degree fly abroad and those following the diploma have to keep waiting until they are being selected from the government. This is a terrible issue that we are facing because we have others things to do in life other than waiting for jobs but we have to still be patient until officials do their duty.”

Rupika

“Although there are graduates with various degrees sometimes companies also seek for other skills like communication and IT. Even skills in leadership and ethics are being looked at. In the case of a lack of such skills these graduates are dropped out. Therefore as an alternative they apply for jobs overseas and get employed there.”

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe
Photographs by Nisal Baduge