Unemployment among Bangladesh’s university graduates has reached alarming levels, with one in three degree-holders remaining jobless for up to two years, according to the latest Labour Force Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The report, released this month, shows that of the country’s 2.62 million unemployed in 2024, some 885,000 were graduates. Among them, one in seven remained unemployed for one to two years, while one in six had been out of work for more than two years. 

Experts warn that prolonged joblessness is leaving lasting scars on young people’s careers, reducing their prospects throughout their working lives.

The survey also detailed how jobseekers attempt to enter the labour market. About 36 percent relied on relatives and friends to find employment, while 26 percent applied through advertisements. 

Twelve percent approached institutions directly, nine percent submitted direct applications, and smaller groups depended on walk-in interviews or delayed responses to job postings.

Economists and labour experts have expressed concern at the trend. Rizwanul Islam, former special adviser on employment at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, described the situation as a serious form of long-term unemployment, noting that it amounts to a “waste of talent and resources” when education and skills are left unused.

He added that the growing dependence on informal networks reflects the decline of structured recruitment processes. “Job hunting has shifted online, reducing formal advertisements and increasing reliance on personal connections,” he said.

Badrun Nessa Ahmed, senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), pointed to weak educational standards and a shortage of qualified teachers as major factors. She cited a study of colleges under the National University that found graduate unemployment at 28 percent — significantly higher than the official 17–18 percent.

Meanwhile, Fahmida Khatun, executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said graduate unemployment reflects deeper structural problems in the economy. “Employment is primarily created through private sector investment, but for over a decade this has stagnated. More recently, investment has fallen further, with much of it coming from foreign rather than domestic sources,” she said.

According to Khatun, graduates often fail to meet the skill demands of the labour market, creating a mismatch between education and employment needs. “Many hold certificates without having received quality or market-relevant education. The result is that even limited job opportunities remain unfilled, and in some cases foreign workers had to be recruited.”

She noted that paradoxically, higher education does not necessarily increase job prospects. “Those with SSC or HSC qualifications often find work more quickly, while many graduates and postgraduates wait years for employment,” she said.

Analysts also observed that large numbers of graduates remain unemployed while awaiting highly competitive government jobs such as the civil service, where positions are limited. By contrast, less-educated workers often secure employment faster in the private sector.

SMS/