Skills Expo 2025 to address SL’s critical skill shortages across industries

Sanath Ukwatte

The annual Skills Expo, returning for its third edition in 2025, aims to bridge the growing gap between vocational training and industry demand, the organisers said, as the country faces acute shortages in technical and skilled labour.

Launched in 2023, Skills Expo has become a key platform to address the mismatch between the education outputs and job market requirements. 

According to Tourism Industry Skills Council and Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman Sanath Ukwatte, the event will focus on sectors from tourism and hospitality to construction, healthcare, manufacturing and IT.

“The expo is designed to guide students and young professionals towards technical and vocational careers that are not only viable but profitable. Youth unemployment remains high, despite the significant vacancies in technical sectors, largely due to a lack of awareness about the opportunities,” said Ukwatte in an interview.

An EY study in 2018 revealed a 22 percent skill gap in the tourism sector, which has grown to roughly 30 percent post-pandemic, as many experienced workers have left the country. The shortage now extends beyond tourism, affecting multiple industries, the officials said.

The expo is backed by the Industry Sector Skills Councils and receives strong government support, including from Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Vocational Education Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage. It will connect over 20,000 government school students, mostly from rural areas, with vocational training programmes, industry representatives and potential job placements.

This year’s edition also highlights career development opportunities. The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing has offered 1,000 full scholarships for its Professional Certificate in Marketing programme, valued at Rs.44 million, while the attendees will qualify for a 50 percent discount, if they wish to pursue the course.

Skills Expo 2025 is positioned not merely as an educational showcase but as a strategic intervention for Sri Lanka’s economic productivity. By aligning workforce skills with market demand, the event aims to motivate youth to pursue technical roles critical for national growth.

“Not everyone can become a doctor, lawyer or engineer. The economy also needs carpenters, plumbers, chefs, welders and drivers. Success lies in promoting these jobs through collaborative partnerships and showing students the career prospects available in every sector,” said Ukwatte.

Sri Lanka’s widening skill gap across industries is set to take centre stage at Skills Expo 2025, an annual event designed to connect vocational training with real industry demand. 

Backed by the government and industry councils, the initiative aims to prepare the country’s youth for jobs in key growth sectors. Mount Lavinia Hotel Chairman, Tourism Industry Skills Council Chairman and The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka Immediate Past President Sanath Ukwatte, in an interview shared about the purpose of the expo and how it hopes to reshape the country’s workforce. Following are the excerpts:

QWhat is the purpose of Skills Expo 2025 and what makes it different from other vocational training exhibitions?

Skills Expo was launched in 2023 and has since become an annual event aimed at addressing the skill shortages across Sri Lanka’s industries. An EY study conducted in 2018 by then-Tourism Council Chairman Zerny Pakeer revealed a skill gap of around 22 percent in the tourism sector. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many experienced workers have left the country, pushing the gap in tourism to about 30 percent. The shortage now affects not only tourism but also other sectors.

The initiative has the backing of the Industry Sector Skills Councils (ISSCs) and is fully supported by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who oversees education and vocational training. Vocational Education Deputy Minister Nalin Hewage has also been a strong supporter.

The main goal is to reduce the skill shortages, improve productivity and align training quality in more than 1,500 government-run training institutions with industry demand. The programme works in partnership with agencies such as the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVET) and National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA).

What differentiates Skills Expo 2025 from other educational exhibitions is its focus on direct industry engagement. It is supported by several councils, including those representing tourism, construction, automotive, agriculture, health, manufacturing and information technology.

The expo will also provide opportunities for more than 20,000 government school students, mostly from rural areas, to explore technical training programmes and exchange information about job vacancies. The event is designed to guide OL and AL students toward vocational career paths, with companies showcasing opportunities across multiple sectors.

QAre you saying this expo could contribute to solving Sri Lanka’s broader economic challenges?

The expo is designed to bridge the critical mismatch between the education system’s output and actual industry requirements. Youth unemployment remains high, despite significant job vacancies in technical sectors, largely due to a lack of awareness and preparation among young people for roles industries urgently need to fill.

By aligning workforce training with market demand, the expo aims to boost economic productivity and demonstrate to youth that technical and vocational careers can offer viable, dignified and profitable pathways.

QSo, is the expo a chance for students to learn about Sri Lanka’s vocational options and explore opportunities across different job sectors? 

Yes. The focus is on career awareness. The expo is designed to show students that vocational paths extend beyond traditional academic jobs and that technical skills can also lead to strong career prospects.

At present, many young people are opting for informal work, such as driving three-wheelers, instead of pursuing careers in industrial sectors. While all work has value, this trend means the country’s workforce is not being used to its full potential.

Skills Expo 2025 aims to shift this by highlighting the opportunities, growth prospects and earning potential available in different industries. By showing a clear path from vocational training to jobs with advancement opportunities, the event seeks to motivate young people to acquire the technical skills Sri Lanka’s industries require.

QWhich sectors or industries will be most represented at this year’s event?

We continue to receive inquiries and bookings and several organisations have joined to show their support. Strong interest has come from sectors such as health, hospitality, industry and education.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) has awarded 1,000 TVET and NAITA students full scholarships for the Professional Certificate in Marketing (PCM) programme, valued at Rs.44 million. In addition, any student who attends the expo and wishes to pursue the PCM will qualify for a 50 percent discount.

QHow do you plan to make Skills Expo 2025 a success?

Success lies in promoting vocational jobs through collaborative partnerships. Not everyone can become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, architect or teacher. The economy also requires skilled carpenters, plumbers, masons, farmers, baristas, chefs, mechanics, healthcare providers, welders, electricians and drivers.

Although the Tourism Skills Council is organising the event, it is open to all sectors. The industry councils representing education, healthcare, manufacturing, automobiles, agriculture, information technology and construction are collaborating with us.

The expo also serves multiple audiences: students seeking career advice, parents looking for guidance for their children and policymakers focused on workforce development.

• Mark your calendars: October 10-11 at the Temple Trees Convention Centre. It’s a fantastic opportunity for different sectors to connect, share ideas and inspire our youth—the next generation of employees and leaders.