⚠️ Labour Shortages Threaten Sri Lanka’s Export Sector: NCE Calls for Action 📈

• Overview & Migration Gap - Exporters face acute talent shortages across skill levels, risking operational continuity and national foreign exchange earnings. - 143,087 Sri Lankans departed for overseas jobs in 2026 so far (SLBFE target: 250,000 for 2026), adding to 1.07M+ registered migrant workers globally. - A large share of the National Chamber of Exporters' 700 member companies report severe recruitment and retention struggles. • Q1 2026 Labour Force Snapshot - Participation Rate: 49.2% | Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (Youth: 16.1%). - Total Employed: 8.1 million. - Sector Share: Services (50.4%), Industry (25.9%), Agriculture (23.7%). • Industry Impact & Policy Response - Shortages heavily affect manufacturing enterprises needing technical personnel and agricultural exporters requiring specialized value-addition skills. - Cabinet approved drafting an inward labour migration policy to allow regulated recruitment of foreign talent for specialized skill gaps while prioritizing local workers. - NCE emphasizes urgent workforce planning, industry-aligned training, and retention mechanisms to meet export targets.