What is keeping educated youth from entering the traditional workforce?

Mamunur Rashid experienced a break-up from his long-term relationship during his last year of university. Naturally, he was in depression for quite some time. But nearly two years down the line, he now can see a silver lining in it. 

"Right after graduation, some of my male friends had no choice but to take up any job they could find immediately," he explained. "The reason was simple: they needed to convince their girlfriends' parents that they had a stable future or were doing something meaningful. Otherwise, the girls might have been married off to someone else."

Without a girlfriend any longer to consider marrying, Mamun didn't face the same pressures. This allowed him the freedom to avoid rushing into the job market, especially since his parents didn't push him to secure a "permanent job" right away.

So, how did Mamun spend the past two years? "Doing all sorts of things," he replied with a grin. 

Initially, he aimed to secure a government job by taking the BCS exam. However, after failing the BCS Preliminary on his first attempt, he realised it was not for him and gave up on it entirely. 

He then shifted his focus to preparing for the IELTS exam and applying for Master's programmes at universities abroad. Simultaneously, he also kept searching for jobs but quickly realised that without substantial experience or a prestigious foreign degree, local firms were unwilling to offer him a decent starting salary. 

In the meantime, Mamun needed a modest monthly income to cover his expenses, as asking his parents for pocket money was no longer an option. To manage this, he tried his hand at several ventures.

His first attempt was a customised t-shirt business, for which he borrowed money from friends. However, the venture failed to take off. Next, he turned to online betting, fuelled by his love for sports. With year-round cricket and football matches keeping him engaged, Mamun initially enjoyed some significant wins. Unfortunately, his luck soon turned, and he suffered heavy losses, amounting to nearly Tk1 lakh. 

Undeterred, Mamun moved on to selling cracked OTT subscriptions, virtual debit cards, and other small-scale online services. While none of these ventures led to meaningful savings, they helped to somehow keep him afloat during a time of nationwide political turmoil and economic instability.

"Hopefully, I'll be accepted into a good foreign university soon and will leave the country by the end of this year. In the meantime, it has been an interesting experience being away from both formal education and formal work over the past two years," Mamun remarked.

Mamun's situation is not unique; he is one of thousands of educated youths in the country who are currently not in the traditional workforce. After completing their tertiary education, many are simply "lying flat," taking a break before heading on to their next goal.

While these youth may not fit the International Labour Organization's (ILO) definition of unemployment—since they are either engaged in informal or non-traditional activities, or they are not actively seeking employment—this phenomenon contributes to the growing number of people who are not part of the regular workforce in a country that is already grappling with increasing unemployment. 

"Many students lack clear career goals and fail to gain real-world experience through internships, volunteer work, or industry-related activities, resulting in employers either dismissing them or not offering them their desired salary despite good academic performance"

Bayezid Khan Rajib, professional skills coach and Faculty of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies at State University of Bangladesh

According to the latest BBS data, the number of unemployed people in Bangladesh has increased by 1.7 lakh in the past year, with fewer people engaged in work or participating in the labour force. The survey found that 26.6 lakh people were unemployed in the country at the end of September, compared to 24.9 lakh during the same period in 2023. 

In fact, the higher the education level, the higher the unemployment rate. One in four of the total unemployed in the country is highly educated. Also, the unemployment rate among educated youth has risen 2.5 times since 2010, according to the recently unveiled white paper on the economy.

While many educated youth in the country are fixated on securing a government job and delay seeking alternative career paths until they are around 30 years old (the new age limit for entering government jobs is 32 years), many also don't take up other private jobs until they get one aligning with their skills and salary ambitions. Many are also waiting to pursue higher education abroad after graduation. 

These factors contribute significantly to the educated population remaining out of the traditional workforce for a considerable amount of time.

Another such example is Ananya Faruque, who has devoted her entire time post-graduation to preparing for government job exams rather than taking a full-time job. Now 26, she passed exams for positions at a government primary school and a bank, but she decided to decline both offers.

Interestingly, the prospect of marriage is influencing her situation as well, albeit in a different way.

"My family is pressuring me to get married, but I've told them I won't marry until I become a BCS cadre. My goal is to achieve this before I turn 28. If I take up another job now and get occupied with it, it might distract me from reaching that goal in time," she explained.

"But even if I fail to clear the BCS by 28, I'll probably have to get married anyway, and that will completely alter the trajectory of my career goals," she feared.

Ruhul Amin, another graduate of Microbiology at Jagannath University, got job offers as a trainee in a leading pharmaceutical company. After a three-month probation period, his position was set to become permanent with a moderate salary. However, what didn't sit well with him was the requirement to work at least six days a week, sometimes even on his only day off. Feeling that the job would be too stressful, he decided against it.

"During my university days, I used to earn a lot by teaching at a university admission coaching. I've decided to continue with that job until I save up enough for a start-up of my own," he shared, adding that he already has some unique ideas for a medicine-related app.

Dr Rasel Hussain, assistant professor of Sociology at East West University, argues that to understand the phenomenon of unemployment among graduates in Bangladesh, we must consider both the job market and societal attitudes towards employment.

According to him, the failure to establish a robust industrial sector in Bangladesh has led young graduates to pursue general job markets, like the BCS and other government or NGO positions, rather than applying their specialised knowledge. 

Furthermore, societal attitudes, influenced by cultural norms, stigmatise graduates seeking informal or lower-level jobs, despite over 85% of the workforce relying on such sectors. 

"Consequently, many graduates, pressured by the system, opt for further education, skill development, or prepare to leave the country for better opportunities, often driven by frustration with the country's systemic mismanagement. Some even resort to underground economic activities as a survival strategy," Dr Hussain said. 

"Along with this structural mismanagement, graduates' mindset towards joining the informal job sector or lower-level positions is largely negative. This attitude, which discourages graduates from entering precarious or informal jobs, is primarily shaped by societal cultural norms, where there is often negative discourse surrounding those who take informal jobs or start their own businesses," he added.

Rahman Mridha, a social researcher based in Sweden, claimed that in the absence of suitable employment opportunities, it is natural for some to fall into unproductive habits, such as excessive time spent on social media platforms, online gambling, or other distractions. "This can lead to a sense of disillusionment and aimlessness, which exacerbates the issue," he said.

Bayezid Khan Rajib, a professional skills coach and Faculty of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies at State University of Bangladesh, said that many students focus solely on academic results, neglecting practical skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and technical abilities, which are essential in the job market. 

Additionally, as graduates, they often end up lacking an understanding of current job market trends, such as the growing demand for technology-based roles. Career guidance and mentoring, which are common in developed countries, are scarce in Bangladesh, leading to poor preparation and direction. 

"Many students lack clear career goals and fail to gain real-world experience through internships, volunteer work, or industry-related activities, resulting in employers either dismissing them or not offering them their desired salary despite good academic performance," he claimed.  

To address this, Rahman suggested a multi-pronged approach. 

"First, we need to create more skill development programmes and vocational training to equip young people with marketable skills. Second, mentorship and career counseling programs could help guide them toward sustainable career paths. Third, creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting start-ups could open new doors for these young minds," he said.

Rajib also recommended that graduates should create a long-term career plan based on their interests and goals, working towards them systematically. Gaining practical knowledge through internships and stepping beyond the classroom is crucial. Building strong professional relationships and seeking career advice and mentoring from experts in the desired field is also vital for success.

"If today's students have a clear long-term career direction, they will avoid the 'lying flat' period after graduation. This will also spare the country from a significant number of young people refraining from joining the workforce long after graduation," Rajib concluded.