Award-winning research into female labour force participation

Have you ever thought about how much it costs you to go to work?Research undertaken by Verite Research into job-related costs faced by urban women in Sri Lanka has generated important findings and attracted international recognition.

Verite Research was awarded a Direct Aid Program through the Australian High Commission to Sri Lanka and Maldives in 2021 to support research into barriers faced by urban women when it comes to meaningful employment.

Australia and Sri Lanka share a commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth that promotes the economic participation and empowerment of everyone, including women. When women are gainfully employed and able to make decisions around their employment and financial situation, households, communities and the wider economy stand to benefit.

The research conducted with Australian support explored why urban-based women in Sri Lanka left formal employment, why they weren’t employed or had not returned to formal employment, and the monetary and non-monetary costs associated with a job. Verite’s research team also explored how gender roles affected the women’s choices.

The findings were stark. In some instances, 90 percent of a woman’s expected monthly income could be taken up by costs associated with being employed such as childcare and financial outlay for items such as uniforms and transport. Non-monetary costs could include the increased time and labour that comes with balancing the workload at home with that of a job. The research also found that most women reported that their decision to leave the labour force was influenced by their spouse, indicating that gender roles and societal norms could be a barrier for Sri Lankan women wishing to enter or remain in formal employment.

The evidence generated by Verite Research is now available for use by policymakers and the private sector to better attract and retain women in the workforce. Verite has also produced a range of infographics on the research findings in order to support communication and advocacy efforts.

In 2022, the University of South Carolina presented Verite Research with a ‘Research Paper of the Year ‘award for the research undertaken with the support of an Australian grant.

The award was presented at a regional ‘Think Tanks as Vehicles for Social Progress’ workshop in Colombo in 2022, at which Former Australian Deputy High Commissioner to SriLanka, Amanda Jewell, commended the important work undertaken by Verite with the support of the Direct Aid Program grant.

With there search attracting international recognition, Verite has a stronger platform from which to communicate the findings, increasing the likelihood that the evidence can be used to promote greater participation of Sri Lanka women in the workforce.

The final report, Costs of Doing a Job for Urban Women in Sri Lanka, can be downloaded here.