Skills development, employment of the youth

GLOBAL mega trends such as the rising role of technology, climate change, demographic shifts, urbanisation, and the globalisation of value chains are changing the type of work and skills demands to succeed in the 21st century labour market. Low skills perpetuate poverty and inequality. When done right, skills development can reduce un- and underemployment, increase productivity, and improve standards of living. Helping people to build up and update their skills makes economical sense. One in three of Bangladesh’s 170 million persons is aged between 10 and 24 years, and the country is well in destination to reap the benefits of this demographic dividend. However, challenges are manifold, including how exactly we think the youth feels about what they should be concentrating on. While I work with adolescents and youth every day, reaching about 1.5 lakh youngsters through BRAC’s skills training programme, I hear many stories of struggles. Addressing these struggles may just be the main element to arming the youth for future years. A formal youth panel discussion has given me some much-needed perspective in this regard. The participants comprised project-based-training graduates employed in informal jobs, technical and vocational trainees and graduates, and university students.

The questions that the youth raised, if taken into account, can help to address the challenges connected with enabling them to be equipped for another frontier. Several factors have emerged before considering a nation developed. They are human development, political stability, gross domestic product, industrialisation and freedom. Reviewing these factors, you'll be able to bring rapid development of the country through industrialisation and human development by using the young population of Bangladesh. At this time Bangladesh is passing through the phase of demographic dividend that emerged in 2007. In line with the UNFPA, the monetary growth potential can derive from shifts to a population’s age structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population is larger than the non-working-age share of the populace. In other words, this is a boost in economic productivity occurring when the number of people in the workforce is more than the number of dependent. At present a lot more than 65 per cent of the persons of Bangladesh are working age. Almost 49 % is probably the age of 24 or less. This 49 per cent may be the future of the country. By aiming the fourth professional revolution and make Bangladesh a developed country, it really is high time these youths were converted into skilled manpower.


To carefully turn them into skilled manpower, the federal government should supply them with quality education and training. As well, job opportunities ought to be designed for them. With quality education, these youths need a befitting job market. According to data from the National Employment Policy 2020 (draft), around 26 lakh people seek to join in the work market in Bangladesh each year. The majority of this working population remain unemployed because of a lack of jobs. According to a European Intelligence Unit report, 47 from every 100 degree holders in Bangladesh are unemployed. Most students in Bangladesh now imagine government jobs as government jobs offer diverse chances, benefits and security. That is why, students start preparation for government job examinations by memorising the marketplace guide books from the first year, without giving importance to the subject-based reading of their respective subjects in advanced schooling. Moreover, there aren't enough subject-based jobs in Bangladesh. That is another reason for the growing disinterestedness in subject-based reading. Due to a rat race behind guide books to qualify in government jobs, an ignorant generation has been created, who are largely ineffective to tackle future challenges. So, besides improving the training system, necessary jobs ought to be created for these youths; if not these talents will be lost.

Bangladesh really wants to achieve the purpose of learning to be a developed country by 2041. In line with the World Population Review, a developed country is a sovereign state with a developed economy and technologically advanced infrastructure. In line with the Global Knowledge Index 2020, Bangladesh ranked 117th among 138 countries of the world. Among the eight South Parts of asia, Bangladesh ranks last. Moreover, according to university rankings done by different international organisations at differing times, the position of Bangladeshi universities is dishearteningly poor. Universities of even the neighbouring countries are doing very well. So, it suggests that the quality of education in Bangladesh needs improvement badly.



To carefully turn these youths into skilled manpower and generate new jobs for them, there are several other challenges for Bangladesh ahead. At this time Bangladesh has a burden of an incredible number of Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh must safely repatriate them to Myanmar in fact it is a great diplomatic challenge for Bangladesh. If the Rohingyas are not repatriated to Myanmar soon, in future the problem may become a bigger headache for the country. Moreover, the Climate Index 2020 shows that Bangladesh could be the 7th most damaged nation due to climate changes. Due to climate change, millions of people in Bangladesh will tend to be displaced. Population is among the most crucial factors among the components of a nation. If a nation knows how exactly to use its population precisely, it could reach the peak of development very rapidly. The working age population of Bangladesh is an extremely significant resource for the country. The 49 % youths certainly are a blessing for the country. It really is high time the federal government focused on their development. Quality of education, along with technical education, should be given Importance. The federal government should also help the young entrepreneurs.

The youths ought to be given proper education and training so that they can be utilised for the development of the nation or else these youths will become a burden for the nation one day. Besides, changing perceptions about the types of jobs the youth are engaged in and diversifying skills are crucial for the youth to be equipped for the near future world of automation, because traditional jobs may become irrelevant in the years to come. Thus, a skills inventory made out of youth groups with diversified skills can help the youth cope with the changing job market.

The education system should be transformed so that academic curricula correspond to market-oriented practical skills, by including technical as well as life skills from very in early stages. This will permit students to come in contact with practical skills alongside academic curricula. Last however, not minimal, a changed mindset about skills training is needed to stay relevant in the job market. Certainly there are lots of more reasons why the youths of Bangladesh are lagging behind, but downgraded education system, unemployment and drug dependency are a number of the setbacks which are hindering the progress of our young generation. All these problems are interlinked and within the reach of the federal government. Albeit the united states has dedicated agencies to facilitate youth skills development and employment, there are questions regarding their cordiality to facilitate the youths.

The federal government must prepare separate policy and arrange for the development of the young generation, because without changing their fate Bangladesh will never be able to achieve the desired national progress.