Youth Empowerment

Unemployment is a great concern in Bangladesh. In our country every year thousands of student are coming out from university. However it is one of the major responsibilities of the government to provide job to this young generation but the government is failed to meet the job demand among the large population. In recently attitude and activity of political parties are very hateful to the general people. The World Bank and the International Labor Organization indicate that 41 percent of young people do not have work, do not have study and do not train. The situation is even worse for young women. Lacking of quality education and skills is the main reason. Many organization and firms have to hire foreigners to operate their task. Unemployment and crime are closely linked. (The WritePass Journal) December 15, 2012

Youth unemployment issue is crucial for sustainable development of Bangladesh. The youth unemployment has increased significantly over the years whereas the overall unemployment remained stable. Annual rise in population is increase the share of the working population, as a mass of new employees join the labor force of our country. The BBS reported that, in 2016, the youth population in Bangladesh has been about 52 million which is more than 33 percent of the total population. Over the next 10 years, the working-age population structure has been expected to grow more than 2.2 million annually. As the employment is falling with a simultaneous slow response on job creation, it would be an issue for the Bangladeshi policy makers. (Unemployment Outlook: A challenging time for the youth of Bangladesh) May, 2017

Similarly, global youth unemployment is in the more critical situation than the overall unemployment. ILO reported that one-third of the young people, 1.8 billion, were not involved in employment, education or training. It is expected that around one billion youth would enter the job market and only 40 percent of them would be able to get jobs in the next decade. Many employers do not seem to value skills acquired in existing and emphasize transferable and soft skills, general basic education do not offer effectively. There looks to be a low-skills stability in which the economy and the private sector are trapped. The economy looks have adjusted to a state-run of unskilled and low productivity of workers at the cost of low productivity of the economy, and generally low earning and under employment among workers, with or without skill training. (The Independent, Title:
Unemployment a big problem for Bangladesh)
POST TIME: 12 March, 2018 00:00 00 AM

9C3F9E41-5D84-4A5E-A9F0-0188F5E22059 — Job Less Youth

Then the question is how much of this economic growth is actually benefiting people where growth is not inclusive. That the bulk of our young people are not associated with any economic activity or any sort of skills development mechanism, leads one to the conclusion that there is a huge gulf between our expectations and the reality on the ground. Economists have been pointing out that Bangladesh’s economic growth has been performing satisfactorily with 6 to 7 per cent GDP growth. However, employment opportune ties have not been on par with this growth, which leads one to think that mere economic growth does not automatically guarantee employment. Similar sentiments were echoed by South Asian Network for Economic Modelling (SANEM) in its quarterly review on the Bangladesh economy. It states that although the economy has performed well, the job market has not grown correspondingly, and hence the conditions of the people have not improved markedly. Similarly, the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD)p stated in its discussion on the latest budget that the nation is fast headed towards a great depression to be triggered by joblessness. We now have more than 30 per cent unemployment rate among the educated class. So we are actually in the midst of a jobless growth where the standard of living for the common people does not improve despite a growing economy. Bangladesh is experiencing a persistent unemployment problem, which is getting worse by the day. Recent media reports point out that the economy creates only two million jobs every year, but a meager 600,000 new jobs were created during 2014 and 2015. (The Independent, Title: Unemployment a big problem for Bangladesh)
POST TIME: 12 March, 2018 00:00 00 AM

Reasons of unemployment

Population growth: Our country is over populated. The fast growing of population is the main reason of unemployment problem. Job facilities and are very small in proportion to the growth of propagation. This increasing number of population overtake all development of the country.

Industrial backward: Our country is industrially very much backward. The development of this field is very slowly. Cottage industries have almost decayed. Only the few mills, factories and industries that can be absorb a limited number of people.

Limited cultivable land: In our country most of the people depend on agriculture base work. But our cultivable land is very limited so, a huge number of people cannot engage. Moreover, this profession is seasonal. So, the farmers have no work or work less few months in a year.

Broken education system: Our present system of education in definite of giving any solution, creates educated unemployed young men in day by day. In our education system there is no much scope of vocational training and technical education to student. After completing the highest degree even from the highest seat of learning, they remain unemployed.

Attitude of our educated youth: Our educated youth generally think it to be disgraceful to do any manual work. They prefer service to any kind of business. This false sense of self-respect and respect is one of the reasons of their being unemployed.

Unemployment Impact on Youth

As a developing country youth unemployment problem is a big issue in our society. To develop our economic power youth employment play a vital role in a country. Young generation are more productive, innovative, creative and energetic. If a country can’t use this young power it must face losses to their economy. To boost our economy, Youth participation is the key. But in real we see the opposite scenario, in our society youths are not getting any opportunity to get involved to develop economy. As a result, they cannot contribute anything to the economy rather they became weight of the society. After competing graduation he\she easily do not get a job. Recently in my experience, one of my cousin face a seven job interview, but they do not get any job. If a person more and more refuse to get a job they become a frustrated, and after that they do not contribute anything to develop in our economy. If a person do not have any source of earn money they do not think big or to do different in our society, they do not expose their skill. As a result of me, I am studying in a private university in final year, I am very concern to focus in my career. I do not know I get a job or not, though I have a good CGPA or extra curriculum activities. To resolve this problem government should have taken some step in youth. In this 2018 election 23.5 million young voter participate, and their age between 18 to 28 years. So government think to this large young population.

Solution of unemployment problem in Bangladesh

According to International Labor Organization (ILO), Bangladesh current unemployment rate is at 4.30% (2017). Though Bangladesh succeeded to decrease its unemployment rate from 5% (2009) to 4.30% (2017) but still over 30 million people are unemployed.

Improve education system, not only higher education, start from primary level.
Increasing government job sector also private.
Improve vocational education system.
Create training center that help uneducated person to improve their skill.
Supply skilled man power to abroad.
Decentralization is a major terms of reducing unemployment problem.
Solving the seasonal unemployment agriculture should have multiple cropping. Also plantations, dairying and animal husbandry should be encouraged. (NEWAGE Bangladesh) Title: A possible solution for youth unemployment, Published: 01:51, Jul 15,2018

Thank You
Piyas Hossain
University of liberal Arts Bangladesh(ULAB)

Reference:

Youth Empowerment

Youth Unemployment Problem in Bangladesh

The Journey Begins