22% of jobs in Sri Lanka are at risk of being lost due to AI assignments.

A recent study conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has revealed that approximately 1.83 million, or 22.8 percent, of Sri Lanka's total employed population are engaged in occupations that could be impacted by Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI). This finding indicates that the advancement of AI technology could have some impact on the job security of these employees.

The IPS points out that Generative AI (Gen AI), which is capable of creating new content rather than being limited to analyzing existing data, is an advanced technology that can directly impact various professions.

According to this report, released in 2025 using Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey data from 2023, it has been identified that over 187,000 employees among those estimated to be exposed to Gen AI technology are in occupations with the highest potential impact from this technology. The majority of these, approximately 179,290, are clerks or clerical support workers, identified as the group with the highest risk of job replacement or disruption by this technology.

Additionally, the study indicates that approximately 142,000 other employees, including professionals, technicians and associate professionals, and clerical workers, are engaged in jobs with increasing exposure to Gen AI technology. However, the report also states that a large portion of Sri Lanka's labor force remains safe from this technological impact. Specifically, approximately 1.83 million people in elementary occupations, 1.21 million skilled agricultural and forestry workers, and 1.10 million people engaged in craft and related trades have been identified as having a minimal or no probability of being at risk.

However, researchers have identified a significant gap between AI exposure and digital readiness in workplaces. The report further indicates that among the 1.83 million employees estimated to be impacted by AI, only 480,543, or 26.3 percent, work in workplaces with computer and internet facilities and possess digital literacy.