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During the year 2008, the private sector has generated 113987 numbers of new jobs for immediate hire. This is the highest number of vacancies recorded during the past four years. Though the total number of vacancies recorded in 2008 was higher than previous years, the number of vacancies in the formal private sector (recorded under main advertisement) has significantly decreased, while it has increased in the informal private sector (recorded under the classified advertisement). Further, the job vacancies in both sectors decreased drastically after September 2008, due to impact of global financial crisis. (See table 1.1, figure1.1, figure1.2, figure1.3 and figure 1.4)

Table: 1.1 Total vacancy (Jan. to Dec. 2008)

Sector	Month
Sector	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Total
Private (Main)	5648	4125	6410	3087	3880	3035	3851	4753	3629	1798	2657	1955	44828
Private (Classified)	5186	9783	8585	4221	6241	7837	4349	7293	6543	3439	3467	2215	69159
Total	10834	13908	14995	7308	10121	10872	8200	12046	10172	5237	6124	4170	113987

Figure: 1.1 Share of the private (main) vacancy by month (2008)

Figure: 1.2 Share of the private (classified) vacancy by month

Total number of recorded vacancies includes both vacancies captured under the main advertisement and classified advertisement. While vacancies recorded on main advertisement in the Newspaper, are most likely to be formal sector vacancies, the vacancies recorded on classified advertisement would be considered as informal sector vacancies. Classification of vacancies as such supports the prevailing understanding of the magnitude of informal sector in the country (61% of total employment) because, the formal and informal sector share of total recorded vacancies are 39% and 61% respectively. Further this share has not been changed significantly for last four years.

Figure: 1.3 Total number of vacancies (Annually) 2005-2008	Figure: 1.4 Total vacancy (bi-Annually) 2005 Jan. to 2008 Dec

Share of vacancies by occupations.	Figure: 1.5. Share of the total local vacancy by occupation (2008)
Figure 1.5 shows the distribution of total vacancies recorded during the period of January to December 2008, across occupational categories. The occupational category of service and sales workers (18.14%) was highest in terms of number of vacancies followed by elementary occupations (15.84%) and professionals (15.15%) during the year 2008.The vacancies recorded for craft and related trades workers (13.18%) and clerical support workers (12.14 %) were also significant.
The share of vacancies recorded on main advertisement (formal sectors) is shown by the figure 1.6.It is interesting to observe that more than one forth of total vacancies (28.62%) was available for professionals followed by the occupation of technicians and associate professionals.There seems to be a structural change in demand for labor in such a way that, demand for professionals has increased by turning down the demand for technicians and associate professionals which was high in demand during past three years .

Figure: 1.6 Share of vacancies (Main advertisement) by occupation	Figure: 1.7 Share of vacancies (Classified advertisement) by occupation

The distribution of vacancies (based on classified advertisement) by occupations shows the different picture as such that the elementary occupations (23.1%) and service and sales workers (22.26%) were at the top in demand.(see figure 1.7)

Vacancies by skill level

Share of vacancies for highly skilled occupations has marginally increased to 21% in 2008 from 20% in 2007 by one percentage point.

Share of vacancies for skilled occupations dropped to 23% by 8 percentage point in 2008 with compared to 2007.

Share of vacancies for semi-skilled and elementary occupations went up to 56% by 6 percentage point

Figure: 1.8 Percentage of the vacancy by skill level by annually

Table 1.2 Skill level by annually

Skill level	Total no of vacancy				Percentage(%)share
Skill level	2005	2006	2007	2008	2005	2006	2007	2008
High Skilled Occupations	17738	17630	16650	23635	16.61	20.46	19.77	20.73
Skilled Occupations	26223	24914	26312	26315	24.56	28.91	31.25	23.09
Semi skilled & Elementary occupations	56448	38677	39358	64032	52.87	44.88	46.74	56.17
Other	6353	4949	1887	5	5.95	5.74	2.24	0.00
Total	106762	86170	84207	113987	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

Vacancies for highly skilled occupations tremendously increased by 20.73% to 23635 in year 2008 with compared to previous year. Within this category vacancies for professionals increased by 57.75% and vacancies for managers by 11.64.But after mid 2008, the high skilled vacancies index felt to 68 in December from 134 in August 2008.This dealing trend evidences the dealing business in the private sector for due to global financial and economic crisis.

Figure: 1.9 Vacancies by high skilled occupations by annually	Figure: 1.10 Vacancies by high skilled occupations by bi-annually

The vacancies for skilled occupations numbered to 26315 in 2008 with no changes compared to year 2007.However ,the vacancies recorded technicians and associate professionals have declined by 27.25% while, demand for craft and related trade workers have increased by 39.17%

Table: 1.3 Annual job vacancies by occupations & skill levels (2005 to 2008)

Occupations & Skill level		As at December			As at December			As at December
		2005	2006	Growth%	2006	2007	Growth%	2007	2008	Growth%
				Growth%			Growth%			Growth%
High Skilled Occupations		17738	17630	-0.61	17630	16650	-5.56	16650	23635	41.95
	Managers	5173	5132	-0.79	5132	5704	11.15	5704	6368	11.64
	Professionals	12565	12498	-0.53	12498	10946	-12.42	10946	17267	57.75
Skilled occupations		26223	24914	-4.99	24914	26312	5.61	26312	26315	0.01
	Technicians and associate Professionals	11373	14522	27.69	14522	15514	6.83	15514	11287	-27.25
	Craft and Related trade workers	14850	10392	-30.02	10392	10798	3.91	10798	15028	39.17
Semi skilled and Elementary occupations		56448	38677	-31.48	38677	39358	1.76	39358	64032	62.69
Clerical support workers		11821	10213	-13.60	10213	10514	2.95	10514	13841	31.64
Service and sales workers		17306	10063	-41.85	10063	9063	-9.94	9063	20675	128.13
Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Workers		326	268	-17.79	268	343	27.99	343	936	172.89
Plant and Machine Operators,and Assemblers		9153	6166	-32.63	6166	7148	15.93	7148	10530	47.31
Elementary Occupations		17842	11967	-32.93	11967	12290	2.70	12290	18050	46.87
Others		6353	49.49	-22.10	49.49	1887	-61.87	1887	5	-99.74
Total		106762	86170	-19.29	86170	84207	-2.28	84207	113987	35.37

In your 2008, vacancies for semi- skilled and elementary occupations grew by around 63%.This was due to massive increase for service and sales workers and skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (see table 1.3)

Job vacancies by industry and occupations

Table:1.4 Share of vacancies (Main advertisement) by occupation & by Industry

Industry	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
A	85	56	114	60	10	9	8	17	14	373
B	1	8	3	1	-	-	7	2	1	23
C	11	6	12	4	3	-	65	10	7	118
D	1382	1733	1946	1261	505	4	1425	918	506	9680
E	19	171	83	29	16	0	47	7	11	383
F	203	882	588	254	44	4	355	121	92	2543
G	432	1002	775	681	593	3	297	186	193	4162
H	324	237	327	341	1169	16	110	52	362	2938
I	177	510	289	310	144	3	76	113	43	1665
J	473	598	457	240	150	0	17	11	22	1968
K	1236	3550	1697	1932	1365	9	545	366	313	11013
L	19	21	7	8	353	0	2	3	11	424
M	148	2363	189	184	31	1	6	16	26	2964
N	74	517	273	154	97	0	10	14	43	1182
NO	263	569	329	601	542	47	406	238	364	3359
O	208	478	381	166	223	1	29	60	46	1592
P	63	100	44	46	29	0	17	19	12	330
Q	7	27	51	5	5	0	3	0	8	106
NS	263	569	329	601	542	47	406	238	364	3359
Total	5125	12828	7565	6277	5279	97	3425	2153	2074	44823

Table 1.4 represents the number of vacancies related for jobs broken down by industries and occupations. The occupational category of professionals, typically high skilled occupation is most important in terms of job opportunities generated during the year 2008.The bulk of vacancies recorded for this occupation splits across three main industries namely Real estate renting and business activities with Education and Manufacturing 3550, 2363 and 1733 number of vacancies respectively. Industrial category of Wholesale and Retail Trade / Repair of motor vehicles and personal and household goods was also important in terms of vacancies for professionals. Among industries, real estate renting and business activities, manufacturing are the top industries, in generating employment opportunities for significant number of occupational categories. (Vacancy recorded under classified advertisement is not included in this table)

Vacancy indexes

Vacancy indexes for skill levels have been constructed to see the fluctuations of vacancies generated by the private sector organizations over the time. The indexes show the identical pattern for all skill levels with huge fluctuations. However, it is important to note that all vacancy indexes have been declining after September 2008 continuously due to shrinking business activities as a result of global financial crisis.

Figure:1.11(a)Vacancy index	Figure:1.11(b)Vacancy index	Figure:1.11(c)Vacancy index
(High skilled occupation 2006 to 2008)	(Skilled occupation 2006 to 2008)	(Semi skilled occupation 2006 to 2008)

Figure:1.11(d)Vacancy index	Figure:1.11(e)Vacancy index
(Elementary Occupation-2006 to 2008)	(All Skill level-2006 to 2008)

Jobs with high vacancies

Table 1.5 to 1.8 list occupations in high demand that were recorded under skill levels. They also show the occupations with the highest growth in percentage change and numeric change

Table: 1.5 Top ranking vacancies and growth in the 12 month to December 2008

Rank	High vacancy occupation	No. of vacancy	Top Percentage Growth occupations	Growth(%)	Top numeric growth occupations	Numeric Growth
1	Domestic cleaners and helpers	5283	Field crop and vegetable growers	1550.00	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	3060
2	Elementary workers not elsewhere classified	4937	Electronics and Services	1256.76	cleaners and helpers in offices,hotels and other establishments	2406
3	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	4018	Ships' engineers	400.0	Domestic cleaners and helpers	2336
4	Shop sales assistants	3927	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	319.42	Security Guards	2169
5	cleaners and helpers in offices,hotels and other establishments	3906	chemical engineers	300.00	shop sales assistants	1390
6	cooks	3755	typists and word processing operators	282.74	accounting and book keeping clerks	1242
7	Advertising and marketing professionals	3405	Crane,hoist and related plant operators	260.53	Waiters	1152
8	Security guards	3395	Meter readers and vending machine collectors	253.85	Data entry clerks	943
9	Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	2954	Building frame and related trades workers not elsewhere classified	251.49	Commercial sales representatives	804
10	Car,taxi and van drivers	2660	Education methods specialists	250.00	General office clerks	700

Table: 1.6 Highly skilled occupations: Total vacancies and growth in the 12 month to December 2008

Rank	High vacancy Occupations	No of vacancy	Top percentage growth occupations	Growth(%)	Top numeric growth occupations	Numeric growth
1	Advertising and marketing professionals	3405	Chemical engineers	300.00	Accountants	351
2	Business servises and administration managers not elsewhere classified	2014	Education methods specialists	250.00	Graphic and multimedia designers	319
3	Secondary education teachers	1575	physiotherapists	204.44	nursing professionals	307
4	Accountants	1272	personnel and careers profesionals	157.26	Managing directors and chif executives	304
5	engineering professionals not elsewhere classified	956	primary school teachers	145.76	engineering professionals not elsewhere classified	250
6	graphic and multimedia designers	844	Dieticiens and nutritionists	133.33	advertising and marketing professionals	235
7	sales and marketing managers	774	supply,distribution and related managers	120.69	sales and markting managers	212
8	Nursing professionals	664	Optometrists and opthalmc opticians	118.75	Personal and career professionals	195
9	Manufacturing managers	636	Managing directors and chief executves	117.83	primary school teachers	172
10	Managing directors and chief executives	562	advertising and public relations managers	105.77	Pharmacist	149

Table:1.7Skilled occupations:Total Vacancies and growth in the 12 month to december 2008

Rank	High Vacancy Occupation	No. of vacancy	Top percentage growth occupations	Growth(%)	Top numeric growth occupations	Numeric growth
1	Commercial sales representatives	1830	Electronics mechanics and servicers	1256.76	Commercial sales representatives	804
2	Carpenters and joiners	1574	Ships' engineers	400.00	Painters and related workers	666
3	Bakers,pastry cooks and confectionary makers	1420	Building frame and related trades workers not elsewhere classified	251.49	Electronics mechanics and servicers	465
4	Manufacturing supervisors	1338	Roofers	200.00	Structural-metal preparers and erectors	344
5	Welders and flame cutters	1241	Medical assistants	197.96	Carpenters and joiners	339
6	Painters and related workers	1149	Mechanical Engineering Technicians	182.02	Building frame and related trades workers not elsewhere classified	337
7	Phisical and Engineering science Technicians not elsewhere classified	1132	Dental Assistants and theraphist	175.00	Mechanical Engineering Technicians	324
8	Administrative and executive secretaries	908	Structural-metal preparers and erectors	154.26	Manufacturing supervisors	315
9	Accounting associate Professionals	876	Plumbers and Pipe fitters	152.53	Plumbers and Pipe Fitters	302
10	Building and related Electricians	838	Painters and Related workers	137.89	Accounting Associate Professionals	300

Table: 1.8 Semi skilled / elementary occupations: Total vacancies and growth in the 12 month to December 2008

Rank	High Vacancy Occupation	No. of vacancy	Top percentage growth occupations	Growth(%)	Top numeric growth occupations	Numeric growth
1	Domestic cleaners and helpers	5283	Field crop and Vegetable growers	1550.00	Heavy Truck and Lorry drivers	3060
2	Elementary workers not elsewhere classified	4937	Heavy Truck and Lorry drivers	319.42	Cleaners and helpers in offices,hotels and other establishments	2406
3	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	4018	Typist and word processing operators	282.74	Domestic cleaners and helpers	2336
4	Shop sales assistants	3927	Crane,hoist and related plant operators	260.53	Security guards	2169
5	Cleaners and helpers in offices,hotels and other establishments	3906	Meter readers and vending machine collectors	253.85	Shop sales assistants	1390
6	Cooks	3755	Security guards	176.92	Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	1242
7	Security guards	3395	Cleaners and Helpers in Offices,Hotels and other establishments	160.40	Waiters	1152
8	Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	2954	Gardners,Horticultural and Nursery growers	155.82	Data entry clerks	943
9	Car,Taxi and Van drivers	2660	Messengers,Package Deliverers and Luggage porters	131.35	General Office Clerks	700
10	General Office clerks	2384	Waiters	121.39	Typist and Word Processing Operators	639

Important of Industries

Importance of industries in terms of creation of new job opportunities and jobs were high demand under main industries are presented as follows.

Table: 1.9 Top industries in generating jobs 2008

Sector	No of Vacancy	Rank
Real estate, Renting and Business Activities	11013	1
Manufacturing	9680	2
Wholesale and Retail Trade / Repair of motor vehicles and personal and Household Goods	4162	3
Education	2964	4
Hotels & Restaurant	2938	5
Construction	2543	6

Table: 1.9.1 Jobs in high demand in the field of Real

Table: 1.9.2 Jobs in high demand in the field of

estate, renting and business activities

Manufacturing

Jobs	No of Vacancy	Rank
Advertising and marketing professionals	871	1
Security guards	707	2
Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	423	3
Public relations professionals	339	4
Business service and administration managers not elsewhere classified	328	5
Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified	296	6
Data entry clerks	290	7
Secretaries(general)	272	8
Receptionists(general)	249	9
Accounting associate professionals	229	10

Jobs	No of Vacancy	Rank
Manufacturing supervisors	617	1
Advertising and marketing professionals	446	2
Manufacturing managers	439	3
Product graders and testers (excluding foods and beverages)	344	4
Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	310	5
Commercial sales representations	249	6
Stock clerks	220	7
Business service and administration managers not elsewhere classified	214	8
Accounting associate professionals	207	9
Sales and marketing managers	182	10

Table:1.9.3 Jobs in high demand in the field of wholesale and retail trade

Table:1.9.4 Jobs in high demand in the field of Education

Jobs	No of Vacancy	Rank
Advertising and marketing professionals	459	1
Commercial sales representatives	298	2
Shop sales assistants	268	3
Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	147	4
Sales and marketing managers	144	5
Secretaries(general)	96	6
Public relations professionals	96	7
Stock clerks	87	8
Business service and administration managers not elsewhere classified	85	9
Data entry clerks	79	10

Jobs	No of Vacancy	Rank
Secondary education teachers	1128	1
University and higher education teacher	292	2
Primary school teachers	183	3
Other language teachers	131	4
Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified	77	5
Information technology trainers	73	6
Vocational education teachers	70	7
Advertising and marketing professionals	55	8
Administrative and executive secretaries	52	9
Receptionists (general)	47	10

Table:1.9.5 Jobs in high demand in the field of Hotels &

Table:1.9.6 Jobs in high demand in the field of

Restaurant

construction

Jobs	No of vacancy	Rank
Waiters	418	1
Cooks	303	2
Chefs	155	3
Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments	155	4
Receptionists (general)	113	5
Cashiers and ticket clerks	90	6
Bartenders	89	7
Kitchen helpers	87	8
Hotel managers	86	9
Restaurant managers	72	10

Jobs	No of vacancy	Rank
Civil engineers	223	1
Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified	174	2
Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified	164	3
Construction supervisors	152	4
Cartographers and surveyors	109	5
Product and garment designers	95	6
Construction managers	82	7
Advertising and marketing professionals	66	8
Stock clerks	61	9
Accounting and bookkeeping clerks	61	10

Table:1.10 Distribution of sex specific vacancy by occupation

Occupation catogary	Female vacancy in Occupation/Total Female Vacancy;same for male			Female vacancy in Occupation/Total number of Vacancy;same for male
Occupation catogary	Female	Male	NS	Female	Male	NS	Total
Others	0.01	0.01	0.00	20.00	60.00	20.00	100.00
Managers	0.97	3.09	9.92	2.32	25.41	72.27	100.00
Professionals	10.57	5.22	27.85	9.35	15.82	74.83	100.00
Technicians and associate professionals	3.82	8.19	13.84	5.17	37.95	56.88	100.00
Clerical support workers	22.08	4.91	17.02	24.37	18.57	57.06	100.00
Service and sales workers	27.89	17.93	15.16	20.60	45.38	34.02	100.00
Skilled Agricultural, forestry and fishery workers	0.07	1.43	0.38	1.18	79.91	18.91	100.00
Craft And related trades workers	3.33	24.55	3.61	3.39	85.47	11.15	100.00
Plant and machine operators, and assemblers	2.76	17.11	2.49	4.01	85.01	10.98	100.00
Elementary occupations	28.50	17.55	9.73	24.12	50.88	25.01	100.00
Total	100.00	100.00	100.00

Table: 1.11 Jobs in high demand in the foreign labour market

Highly Demanded jobs	Rank
Civil engineers	1
Elementary workers not elsewhere classified	2
Heavy truck and lorry drivers	3
Security guards	4
Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments	5
Mechanical engineering technicians	6
Car, taxi and van drivers	7
Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers	8
Manufacturing supervisors	9
Plumbers and pipe fitters	10
cooks	11
Welders and flamecutters	12
Domestic cleaners and helpers	13
Shop sales assistants	14
Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified	15
Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified	16
Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified	17
Electronics mechanics and servicers	18
Sewing machine operators	19
Structural-metal preparers and erectors	20
Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers	21
Chefs	22
Carpenters and joiners	23
Painters and related workers	24
Waiters	25
House builders	26
Building and related electricians	27
Electrical engineering technicians	28
Earthmoving and related plant operators	29
Garden and horticultural labourers	30
Crane, hoist and related plant operators	31
Mechanical engineers	32
Craft and related workers not elsewhere classified	33
Construction supervisors	34

Figure:1.12Ffrequency of degree requirement

Table:1.12 Degree in High Demand

Bachelor of Art Degree	Rank
Social Science	1
Economics	2
Languages-English	3
Development Studies	4
Political Science	5

Management Degree	Rank
Business Administration	1
Accounting & Finance	2
Marketing	3
Human Resources	4
Business Management	5

Other	Rank
Commerce (B.Com)	1
Law (L.L.B)	2

Required degree qualifications for private sector jobs are concerned, engineering and other science based degree are more important. Degree like business administration and accounting & finance are also important.

Degree	Rank
Engineering	1
Computer science	2
Business Administration	3
Accounting & Finance	4
Mechanical	5
Marketing	6
Human Resources	7
Commerce(B.Com)	8
Electrical	9
Social Science	10

Table:1.13 Degree in high Demand by catogary of Degree

Bachelor of Science Degree	Rank
Engineering	1
Computer Science	2
Mechanical	3
Electrical	4
Quantity Surveying	5

Persons science based degrees are demanded for the jobs in number of occupations such as managers, professionals and technicians and associate professionals.

For the managerial jobs in the private sector, the Following degree qualifications are most required

For the professional jobs, it has been recorded that, the following degree holders have more opportunities.

Table:1.14.1 Degree requirement for Managers

Table:1.14.2 Degree requirement for professionals

Degree	Rank
Marketing	1
Business Administration	2
Engineering	3
Human Resources	4
Computer Science	5
Accounting & Finance	6
Mechanical	7

Degree	Rank
Civil Engineering	1
Computer science	2
Mechanical	3
Electrical	4
Accounting & Finance	5
Business Administration	6
Quantity Surveying	7

For the jobs in technicians and associate professional occupation the most required degree qualification are as follows.

Table:1.14.3 Degree requirements for Technicians and associate Professional

Figure:1.13 Frequency of Professional & other Education Qulification

Degree	Rank
Engineering	1
Social Science	2
Business Administration	3
Accounting & Finance	4
Agriculture	5
Commerce (B.Com)	6
Economics	7

The above figure 1.16 represents the Frequency of professional qualifications required for jobs. For the first time ICASL has past CIMA, which was top throughout the last 3 years.

Diploma and certificate courses required for private sector jobs in professional and technicians and associate professional occupations are ranked as follows.

Table:1.15 Highest numbers of vacancies by Diploma and certificate

Table:1.16 highest numbers of vacancies by skills

Diploma & Certificate	No of Vacancy Recorded	Rank
NDT	936	1
NCT	465	2
HNDE	282	3
NDES	240	4
Computer & IT	210	5
Management	103	6
HRM	78	7

Skills	No of Vacancy Recorded	Rank
English	8335	1
Ability to Utilized IT	5599	2
Communication Skilled	3443	3
Interpersonal - PR	1811	4
Sinhala	1508	5
Team Work	1021	6
Being positive & Motivated	974	7
Tamil	637	8
Analytical	629	9
Outgoing Personality	585	10
Leadership	560	11
Result Orientation	363	12
Presentation	268	13

Skills such as English language, ability to utilize information technology (IT), communication, and interpersonal skills are most important for the private sector jobs. The above table 1.16 shows the importance of such skills recorded for certain occupations, such as managers, professionals, and technicians & associate professionals.