JobsNet is a project of the Ministry of Employment & Labour, conceptualised & managed by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). Besides the Ministry & Chamber of Commerce, stakeholders are the Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD) & the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

JobsNet, Conceptualised by CCC in November 2002, opened its first centre in January 2003. The network today extends to seventeen centres island-wide. JobsNet is structured to ensure a high percentage of the population has ease of access to its services. JobsNet was established with the prime intention of providing a valuable service to the ‘jobs market’, helping match the needs of jobseekers & employers. As at date in excess of 70,000 jobseekers have registered with JobsNet, 4% of these with interest in self-employment. With jobseekers searching in high numbers, & jobs evidently available, the inevitable question has been ‘why can’t these people get the jobs they want?’ The answer lies in the quality or ability of the job applicants. Of the 70,000 jobseekers registered to date, 90% can be identified as requiring some, or additional training if they are to match employers expectations & requirements. Through evaluation, The Chamber and JobsNet has profiled clear ‘bottlenecks’ & shortfalls in the current provision of training nationwide, and submitted a proposal to SIDA, which was accepted as a viable & sustainable solution, in upgrading the skills of the jobseekers, in making them employable in accordance with theirs and the employers’ expectations.

For further details visit www.jobsnet.lk