One crore young people neither employed nor in education

Rashedul Islam is from Majher Char in Harinchawra of Lalmonirhat Sadar. He passed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in 2021. But due to poor transportation facilities and financial hardship, he could not continue his education. The young man has spent the past five years sitting idle. He has not received any technical training either that could have helped him to be employed.

Rashedul said he would have started a business if he had the money. But he does not have the capital. He is now considering taking up farming in his village.

Rashedul’s situation is not unique. It reflects the everyday reality of millions of young people across the country. Around 10 million young people in Bangladesh are currently neither employed, nor in education or training. Recent reports by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank and local research institutions have highlighted the alarming situation.

According to the 2022 census conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), there are 31.6 million people aged between 15 and 24 in the country, accounting for around 19 percent of the total population. The General Economics Division (GED) of the government’s Planning Commission says 5.52 million people in this age group are economically inactive. In other words, they are neither working nor looking for jobs.

Experts say Bangladesh has an opportunity to benefit from its demographic dividend. However, if this opportunity is not properly utilised, it could turn into a demographic burden. The frustration among young people is not limited to employment; it is also linked to their participation in society, dignity and uncertainty about their future.

One in three young people is outside education, employment

According to ILO data for 2025, the youth unemployment rate in Bangladesh stands at 16.8 percent. The unemployment rate is 14.8 percent among young men and 22.7 percent among young women.

More concerning is the NEET (not in education, employment or training) rate, which stands at 30.9 percent. This means roughly one in every three young people is outside education, employment or training. The rate is 49.3 percent among young women, more than four times the 11.1 percent rate among young men.

According to World Bank data from November 2025, 12.6 million, or 27.1 percent, of Bangladeshis aged between 15 and 29 are neither in education, employment nor training. Women account for 89.6 percent of this group, meaning around 11.4 million young women are affected by the crisis.

The World Bank analysis says one in five young women is unemployed, while one in four educated young women is without work. Social and cultural barriers, safety concerns and a lack of women-friendly workplaces have been identified as the main reasons behind the problem.

Jinnat Monira, 28, is a resident of Nohali in Gangachara, Rangpur. She passed her Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in 2016. She subsequently got married and had a child. Although she enrolled in a degree pass course, she could not continue her studies.

She said many women like her want to work but have not had access to any government training.

42 percent do not make it to job interviews

A study by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) and ActionAid found that 8.56 million young people in Bangladesh are neither in education, employment nor training.

Government jobs are the top career choice among young people, with 32 percent preferring them, followed by business or entrepreneurship at 29 percent. However, entering the job market is difficult in practice.

The study found that 61 percent of young people do not have an updated CV, while 30 percent do not know how to send an email and 45 percent cannot write a letter on a computer. As a result, 42 percent of those who apply for jobs do not make it to the interview stage.

Young people are also looking to freelancing and overseas employment as alternative career paths. More than half are interested in freelancing, but a lack of digital skills, English proficiency and internet access remains a major barrier.
Youth Facing Social Risks: GED Report

According to a report by the General Economics Division (GED), approximately 8.3 million people in the country are addicted to drugs, of whom 80 percent are youth (aged 18–35). Additionally, around 5 million people are involved in online gambling, a number that could reach 20 million by 2027.

The Education-Employment Mismatch

According to the GED, the gap between education and the job market is widening. Secondary education suffers from a lack of analytical and practical skills. Universities have increased in number due to commercial interests, without proper planning for the labor market. Technical and vocational education is socially neglected, despite having good job placement outcomes. Among graduates of the National University, approximately 28.24 percent are unemployed. In 2024, out of an estimated 2.6 million unemployed people, 900,000 held university degrees.

Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the private research organization Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), told Agamir Samay: "Our economy is not creating enough quality employment where educated and skilled youth can utilize their capabilities. At the same time, there is a huge mismatch between the education system and labor market demands. Prolonged periods of joblessness erode young people's skills and confidence, which also harms future productivity."

Where the Crisis Is More Acute

In June, the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) published a report titled "Analyzing the Causes of Net Conditions of Youth in Humanitarian Crisis-Affected Areas in Bangladesh." According to the institute's data, the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rate among youth aged 14–25 in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, is 34.3 percent, which is higher than the national average. Among displaced Myanmar nationals (youth), the NEET rate is 66.6 percent, while among local youth it is 43.7 percent. The NEET rate for young women is 72.8 percent, compared to 19.6 percent for young men. Researchers have recommended targeted education and vocational training programs for youth in marginal and crisis-affected areas.

Government Plans

Officials from the Planning Commission state that the government has taken several initiatives to develop employment-oriented industries and the economic services sector. Potential investment in this sector over the next three fiscal years has been estimated at Tk 16,000 crore. Of this, Tk 4,842 crore has been allocated for the current fiscal year.

Planning Secretary S.M. Shakil Akhtar said that allocations have been made in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) keeping these strategic objectives for the current fiscal year in mind. Emphasis will also be placed on planned allocations and project implementation in the coming fiscal years.

According to information from the Department of Youth Development, there are 10 ongoing projects under this department. Among them, the EARN project, funded by the World Bank, is underway to train 9 lakh (900,000) NEET youth. Additionally, a Tk 500-crore startup fund and tax/VAT exemptions are expected to encourage new entrepreneurs. However, experts say the success of these initiatives will depend on implementation and good governance.