Tackling unemployment through technical education

The number of educated unemployed people in Bangladesh has doubled over the last eight years, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Alarmingly, the highest unemployment rate is among educated youth, with one in every three unemployed holding a bachelor's degree. The Bangladesh Labour Force Survey 2024 reports 26.24 lakh unemployed people, of whom 8.85 lakh have a bachelor's degree-an indication of a growing social and economic concern.

Several factors contribute to this rising unemployment: rapid population growth, lack of coordination in the job market, increased competition, limited expansion of cottage and small-scale industries, and underdeveloped agricultural sectors. Immediate and strategic steps are necessary to address this challenge.

One effective approach is to integrate compulsory vocational and technical education alongside formal education. This would not only equip youth with practical skills but also create new employment opportunities. Subject-based education can help balance competition in the job market, while investment in infrastructure-such as canal digging, road construction, and dam projects-can generate jobs, particularly in rural areas.

Bangladesh's large population can be transformed into a productive workforce if proper training, skill development, and employment strategies are implemented. Technical education is not just a tool for personal development; it is a national strategy to reduce unemployment, enhance economic growth, and strengthen the country's human capital.

Shah Muntacher Hossain Mihan

Student, Department of Social Work

Noakhali Science and Technology University