Despite having one of the youngest populations in the world, Bangladesh is facing a growing graduate unemployment crisis—now affecting nearly 900,000 graduates, many of whom continue searching for work well into their 30s. Alarmingly, graduate unemployment has risen from 4.9% in 2010 to over 13.5% today, and is now higher among university graduates (13.5%) compared to those with no formal education (1.25%). This highlights a deep structural mismatch between education outcomes and labour market realities.
In a recent in-depth interview titled “The Death of Bangladeshi Degree | Economix | EP 07”, hosted by South Era Network (SEN), our Managing Director Md. Rubaiyath Sarwar, joined the discussion to unpack the structural drivers behind this growing crisis.
The conversation explored why higher education is increasingly failing to translate into employment, and what this means for Bangladesh’s future workforce. Key themes included:
The discussion also emphasized long-term solutions, including rethinking university systems, strengthening skills alignment, improving labour market data infrastructure, and exploring more globally integrated employment pathways.
As Bangladesh continues its development journey, a critical question remains: can the economy evolve fast enough to create meaningful opportunities for its educated youth—or will the mismatch between education and employment continue to widen?
🎥 Watch the full discussion: South Era Network (SEN) – The Death of Bangladeshi Degree | Economix | EP 07
.png)
