S&T Workers for Innovation and Growth in Sri Lanka

Nisha Arunatilake

Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka

ADB-Asian Think Tank Development

Forum 2018

2

Council on competitiveness, 2005, Innovate America

Quality Efficiency

Innovation

Last 25 years Next 25 years

3

Talent

Investment

Infrastructure

Innovate

for

success

Innovate America (Council on competitiveness 2005)

OECD Innovation Strategy 2015

Skilled workforce

Sound business env.

Knowledge creation and diffusion

Promote Innovation

Better governance

4

Innovations

“Science, technology and innovation are

central … for building a more innovative

and vibrant economy”

Source: Malaysia’s S&T policy for the 21st century

More R&D Partnerships

for innovations

Transform knowledge

into products

Recognize the value of

S&T

Source: Malaysia’s S&T policy for the 21st century

7

Among other things …

“A high proportion of science and

technology workers are needed for

driving innovation!”

OECD (2012) - 40%

Who are S&T workers

Demand for S&T workers in SL

Supply of S&T workers in SL

S&T skills match

Recommendations

S&T workers - Definitions

10

Who is a science and technology

worker (narrow definition)?

- Everyone who has successfully

completed post-secondary education in

an S&T field

- Or, is working in an associated S&T

occupation

Canberra Manual, 1995

Human Resources in S&T

Tertiary Educated

(HRST-EDU)

University Level -Degree or above

(ISCED 6-8)

Technical Level - (ISCED 5)

Occupied in a job requiring tertiary education

(HRST-OCC)

Professionals

(ISCO – 2)

Technicians and Associate Prof.

(ISCO-3)

Measuring HRST

12

HRST-EDU HRST-OCC HRST CORE

The Canberra Manual 1995

Employment in S&T in Sri Lanka

Share of HRST, by gender (%)

12.1 12.6

9.4 9.7

17.2 18.1

0

5

10

15

20

2013 2016

All Male Female

Share of HRST in Employed (%)

3.7

4.8

6.3

6.4

7.5

18.2

18.8

24.0

17.8

22.6

3.3

2.3

5.8

5.8

7.3

15.7

15.4

12.9

21.4

18.2

0 10 20 30 40 50

India (2011)

Indonesia (2010)

Sri Lanka (2013)

Sri Lanka (2016)

Brazil (2009)

EU 28 (2013)

Russian Federation…

United Kingdom (2013)

Germany (2013)

United States (2013)

Professionals (ISCO 2) Technicians and associate professionals (ISCO 3)

Source: OECD,2013 & LFS

Professionals, by type (%)

Science and Eng. Prof.7.7%

Health Prof. 17.4%

Teaching Prof. 60%

Business and Admin 5.3%

ICT 1.9% Other -7.5%

Source: Arunatilake 2016

38

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-

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

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S&T Workers, by type (No.)

Employment trends

-20 0 20 40 60 80 100

All

Managers, senior officials and…

Professionals

Technicians and Associate…

Clerks

Services and sales workers

Skilled agriculture workers

Craft workers

Plant and machine operators

Elementary occupations

Other

Share of employment in 2016 (%) Job growth 2013 to 2016 (%)

Source: LFS data

Tertiary Educated in Sri Lanka

Tertiary Educated (HRSTE) 15 and above population

Other 86.7%

Technical - 10%

University - 3.3%

Census 2002 data

Education of 30-39 year olds (%)

• OECD tertiary educated target: 40% (30-34 year olds)

0.42 4.72

11.71

83.15

Post-Graduate

Degree

Vocational-3

Other

Source: Census 2002 data

Tertiary educated working in S&T

occupations (HRST-CORE) in Sri Lanka

University Educated, by activity

51.0

20.9

6.4

21.7

S&T occupations All other occupations

Unemployed Out of the labour force

Tertiary Educated – Technical Level, by activity

14.2

42

5.8

38

S&T occupations All other occupations

Unemployed Out of the labour force

Not Tertiary Educated – Technical Level, by activity

3.7

42.6

3

50.6

S&T occupations All other occupations

Unemployed Out of the labour force

Professionals, by Education 3

9.4

41

.5

30

.6 43

.3

31

.2

40

.1

31

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sProfessionals

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Less thantertiaryeducated

Technicians and Associate Professionals, by education

0102030405060708090

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Technicians and associate professionals

University level

Technical level

Less than tertiaryeducated

Recommendations

Expand access to S&T tertiary education

Expand access to

universities

Promote vocational

training

Career guidance

Promote professional and

technical jobs

Attract FDI

Facilitate firm growth

Reduce mismatches

Better labour mkt

information

Career guidance

Industry – training linkages

Nisha Arunatilake

Institute of Policy Studies

www.ips.lk