Bangladeshi youth still face job crisis after uprising

Bangladesh’s youth-led political uprisings demanded accountability, and reform. Yet today, the very generation that once stood at the center of national transformation is grappling with a harsh reality limited job prospects, rising unemployment, and growing uncertainty about the future. Despite political promises and economic growth indicators, thousands of young Bangladesh is remain unemployed or underemployed, especially university graduates.

The Hopes That Followed Protest Movements

During the early 2010s, Bangladesh witnessed waves of youth activism most notably the Shah Bagh movement, which was rooted in calls for justice against war criminals. These movements awakened a new sense of civic consciousness and optimism among the country’s young people.

Leaders promised that the booming garment sector, digital economy, and infrastructure projects would create new employment opportunities. Bangladesh, they said, was on the brink of becoming a middle-income country with jobs for all. However, this vision has not yet materialized for many.

A Crisis of Expectations: Educated But Unemployed

Today, the streets and campuses of Dhaka and other cities are filled with stories of disappointment. University graduates with degrees in fields such as business, engineering, sociology, and science often find themselves unemployed for months sometimes even years. Job fairs are packed, and application processes for government jobs attract hundreds of thousands of applicants for a few hundred vacancies.

Many youths accept positions far below their qualifications, working in retail, small offices, or part-time gigs. Others turn to freelance or online jobs, but competition is high, and income is inconsistent. The mismatch between education and employment has led to a growing sense of frustration and economic insecurity.

Skills Gap Worsens the Problem

One of the biggest contributors to youth unemployment is the widening skills gap. Educational institutions, while producing degrees, often fail to equip students with practical, job-ready skills. Employers frequently report that fresh graduates lack the technical training, digital literacy, communication skills, and adaptability required for modern workplaces.

Bangladesh’s economy is slowly shifting toward automation, technology, and service-oriented industries, yet vocational education and skill-building programs remain underfunded or inaccessible. As a result, many graduates struggle to compete even within their own country, let alone globally.

Inequality in Employment Opportunities

Not all young people in Bangladesh face the same challenges. Youth from urban, upper-middle-class families have better access to quality education, internet connectivity, and networks that help secure jobs. Meanwhile, youth from rural areas, poorer households, and marginalized communities face greater hurdles—including limited access to information, fewer institutions nearby, and systemic discrimination.

For women, the challenges are often doubled. Despite progress in female education, traditional gender roles and workplace biases make it harder for young women to secure stable employment, especially outside the home or informal sectors.

Youth Migration as a Temporary Solution

For many young Bangladeshis, going abroad appears to be the only way out. Migration to the Gulf, Malaysia, or Europe legally or otherwise is a popular path. Every year, thousands of youths leave home in search of better income, often taking loans or selling land to pay agents. While remittances support many families back home, this brain drain takes away potential contributors to national growth and innovation.

Unfortunately, this path is not always safe. Many migrants face exploitation, poor working conditions, or legal uncertainties. The risks of overseas employment highlight the urgent need to create reliable opportunities within Bangladesh itself.

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