Uber study reveals potential 8% rise in female workforce in Colombo by 2028

Uber India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Head of Regional Business Operations Shiva Shailendran along with Uber Sri Lanka Country Lead Mobility Kaushalya Gunaratne officially launches the industry report

A study by the ride-hailing company Uber says access to mobility could increase female workforce in Colombo by 8 percent by 2028 and it could contribute to the capital city’s economy by over 3 percent.
The study shows how ride-hailing services have become a vital vehicle for women to access the workforce or move up the ladder to achieve financial independence.
As per the report, the ride-hailing boost will result in over 50,000 women joining the workforce in Colombo by 2028.
Women in Sri Lanka have lower labour force participation rates than their global peers. Compared with a worldwide female labour force participation rate of 47 percent in 2022, the figure for Sri Lanka was just 32 percent.
As per the report, the two biggest challenges to women’s mobility are a lack of access to safe transport and the current imbalance in their work-family arrangements.  

Commissioned by Uber, Oxford Economics, an independent global advisory firm, has authored the report.
Uber Sri Lanka Country Lead Rides Kaushalya Gunaratne said, “Greater women’s participation in the workforce is vital for Sri Lanka to realise its economic potential. This research by Oxford Economics highlights how safe, reliable commuting options through ride-hailing can bring in more women to join the workforce.”
Oxford Economics Lead Economist Bali Kaur Sodhi said, “Women around the world still participate less than men in paid work. The issue is not that women are less educated or less qualified; it largely reflects the fact that women still take the burden of household and care work, especially in emerging markets. This report gives an evidence-based policy recommendation for adoption of technology in helping remove mobility barriers for women to enter the workforce or move up in their careers.”