Lankan workers more productive than regional counterparts : WB

Sri Lanka’s next generation of workers have last year recorded its productivity to be higher than average for its region and income group.

In 2017, Sri Lanka’s Human Capital Index (HCI) is higher than the average for its region and income group, a World Bank report on the HCI stated. It noted that between 2012 and 2017, the HCI value for Sri Lanka remained approximately the same at 0.58.

The HCI measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18. It conveys the productivity of the next generation of workers compared to a benchmark of complete education and full health. It is constructed for 157 countries.

The data report notes that a child born in Sri Lanka today will be 58 per cent as productive when she grows up as she could be if she completed education and full health.

In addition 99 out of 100 children are likely to survive up to 5 years and they are likely to complete 13 years of school by their 18th birthday. The World Bank report also highlighted that when taking into account what children actually learn in school the number of years is only 8.3 years.

In terms of harmonised test scores, it has been found that the Sri Lankan student scores 400 on a scale where 625 repre- sents advanced attainment and 300 represents minimum attainment.

The survival rate of adults is currently seen at 87 per cent of 15 year-olds living until 60 years in line with current conditions experienced as an adult.

In terms of healthy growth it was found that 83 out of 100 children were not stunted and that only about 17 out of 100 were stunted.

Further the country’s HCI is higher than what would be predicted for its income level in 2017 according to the report.

The Human Capital Project seeks to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital.