DCS conducts first ever Survey on Time Use

Department of Census and Statistics (DCS) has commenced the first ever Survey on Time Use in Sri Lanka to compile information on the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, childcare, volunteering, socializing, and household work etc. 

About 6400 households have been selected for this Survey using standard sampling methods to cover the entire country. The survey activities are now in progress and DCS staff is visiting households for data collection. Findings of this Survey will be useful to understand the amount of work carried out in households, to understand reasons affecting female labour force participation etc. This Survey is also useful to understand how much time available for people to engage in physical activities such as exercises, and to understand how special social groups such as mothers, young people, unemployed and senior citizens use their time.

Department of Census and Statistics Director General Dr. Amara Satharasinghe, said that data collected through this Survey are very useful to compile statistics to facilitate better policy formulation and developing programs to increase welfare of citizens, address issues of gender inequalities and labour productivity, orienting programs to increase household income through small medium and household enterprises etc. Time Use Survey will also provide data on the status of the Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) s; “Achieving gender equality and empower all women and girls”.

Data will be collected using an activity diary, which is to be completed for all members aged 10 years and above, indicating what activities household member engaged in during 24 hours of the chosen day in 15 minutes intervals. The informant has to provide details on activities, which are then coded according to internationally recommended classification systems. The activity diary will be provided to persons in selected households, and the respondents are expected to provide required information. Dr. Satharasinghe further said that the information collected will only be used for the purpose of compiling statistics required for development activities of the country, and assured that the individual information will not be divulged to any agency or any person.

Director General of the DCS requests all members of the households selected for this Survey to extend their fullest support by providing accurate information and to extend their fullest cooperation to conduct this Survey successfully.

DCS provides various socio economic and demographic statistics to data users covering a wide spectrum from students, researchers to policymakers and international agencies.