Growth to ensure job creation

It's a matter of pride that neighboring India and Pakistan have expressed surprise at Bangladesh's growth story. However, let's also acknowledge that such growth does not meet the need for creating new jobs. In fact, the informal sector generates 80 per cent of the total employment opportunities in the country.

The pandemic has seriously affected the labour market. According to a recent labour force survey, the number of unemployed people is 2.88 million. We know unless the vast majority of the people can benefit from the fruits of development, development is hardly meaningful to them.

When we take pride in demographic dividend, we must take initiative to make the youth skilled and qualified. The employed army of the youth can automatically contribute to the growth of gross domestic product. It's the responsibility of the government to focus on sustainable employment generation for distributing the fruits of development especially when the youths are facing unprecedented challenges.

Wares Ali Khan

NarsingdiSadar

[email protected]