Youth unemployment is a growing challenge in Bangladesh. The mismatch between the education system and the job market and the lack of skills development are leading to rising unemployment and a shortage of skilled manpower. Bangladesh currently has a significant demographic advantage of a large young population, which offers great potential for economic development, but this advantage is currently at risk, especially among educated and urban youth, which has deepened the crisis.
According to the 2023 Labour Force Survey (LFS), about 1.94 million people aged 15-29 are unemployed in Bangladesh, which is 7.2% of the total youth labour force. Of these, 78.9% are youth, indicating a disproportionate burden of unemployment on the young population. There is a clear disparity in unemployment rates between urban and rural areas, with the urban youth unemployment rate at 10.5% and the rural youth unemployment rate at 6.4%. This difference reflects the over-concentration of educated youth in cities and the limited opportunities in the urban labour market.
Among the unemployed youth, 31.5% are university graduates, 14.9% have higher secondary education and 21.3% have secondary education. These statistics highlight the deep mismatch between our education system and the needs of the labor market. Many students are graduating with degrees that have little practical application in the labor market, leading to a growing "educated unemployment."
Why is there so much unemployment and what are the root causes of this youth unemployment? The main cause of this unemployment is skills shortage. Our traditional education system often emphasizes theoretical education rather than practical skills. As a result, most young people are not prepared for the workplace after leaving university. In addition, the number of jobs in the country is also insufficient compared to the demand.
Although Bangladesh has made progress in industrializing the garment sector, the sector is not able to absorb educated youth due to the lack of diversification of the economy. Urbanization and internal migration trends are also a factor in the increase in unemployment, as young people from rural areas come to cities in search of employment, increasing competition in an already limited labor market.
In addition, the country's technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system remains inadequate and underutilized. The sector is not able to realize its potential due to lack of adequate infrastructure, quality trainers and up-to-date curriculum.
This situation is having a serious negative impact on the social and economic balance of the country. Depression, stress and social isolation are increasing among unemployed educated youth. Along with this, the risk of crime and drug addiction in the society is also increasing. Economically, the working population is becoming inactive, resulting in a decrease in income and consumption capacity and hampering national growth in the long run. Many are migrating abroad in search of work, which, although bringing income to the family in the short term, is wasting domestic talent and talent in the long run.
In addition, due to family and social pressures, these large unemployed people who go abroad are migrating abroad in an unskilled state. Before acquiring relevant technical skills or language proficiency, they go to countries in the Middle East or Southeast Asia, where the labor market is relatively competitive and awareness of workers' rights is low. As a result, they are engaged in low-wage, risky and temporary work. Many are victims of recruitment fraud, human trafficking or harassment in the workplace.
However, the demand for skilled workers in the international labor market is constantly increasing. But Bangladesh is still not able to take advantage of this demand. As a result, the remittance flow is not as sustainable and productive as it should be.
Currently, about 13 million Bangladeshis are working in different countries of the world. Of these, the largest expatriates are in Middle Eastern countries-Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman. In addition, there is a significant presence of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Italy.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, Bangladesh's remittance income was about US$24 billion, which plays an important role in building foreign exchange reserves. However, this income could have been increased many times over if efficiency, security and a fair working environment were ensured.
Skilled manpower can not only earn higher wages, but also play a role in building a positive image of the country. Countries like Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia are currently facing a shortage of skilled workers. If Bangladesh could send its trained workers to this market, the remittance flow would be more sustainable. Moreover, opportunities for digital remittance income can also be created by developing skilled manpower in the IT and freelancing sectors.
The state needs to take proactive steps on an urgent basis to overcome this worrying situation. First, the education system needs to be restructured so that, in addition to theoretical education, job market-relevant skills such as digital literacy, communication skills, critical thinking and entrepreneurial spirit are taught to students. Secondly, we need to ensure the expansion of technical and vocational education so that young people are interested in practical diploma and certificate courses and through these courses they can become competitive in the job market.
Thirdly, we need to develop effective partnerships with the industry sector, through which it will be possible to create internships, apprenticeships and job-oriented training opportunities. Fourthly, we need to make startup incubation, financing and consultancy services easily available to encourage young entrepreneurs, so that they are able to create new jobs. Fifthly, we need to develop regional employment clusters to reduce the pressure of urban-centered employment, so that employment opportunities are also created in rural and rural areas.
Many countries have implemented successful reforms in the education sector to reduce youth unemployment. Germany's dual education system offers theoretical education as well as practical work experience, which prepares students for jobs. Singapore has made vocational training a respectable and attractive option through its TVET system. Finland's education model creates an adaptable and skilled workforce through personalized learning paths and skilled teacher training. Developing countries, including Bangladesh, can follow these examples and adopt strategies that are consistent with local realities.
This whole picture indicates a serious mismatch between our education and labor market needs. If well-planned reforms in education, skill development and job creation are not brought about immediately, the potential of the "youth dividend" that Bangladesh has may gradually turn into a "youth burden". This could result in a country's economic development being hampered and social unrest increasing which is extremely dangerous for the future of a developing nation.
The writer is a journalist
