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Empowering young people for a diverse and robust economic landscape

Young people in Bangladesh are hailed as essential drivers of progress and equity as they commemorate International Youth Day 2025 and the 10th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda. Leveraging their talents, leadership, and potential is critical for fostering inclusive economic growth and ensuring...

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Harvesting Youth Talent for an Economy that is Inclusive and Resilient
Harvesting Youth Talent for an Economy that is Inclusive and Resilient

Empowering young people for a diverse and robust economic landscape

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is taking significant strides to empower youth in Bangladesh, addressing challenges in the job market and fostering a more inclusive and resilient economy.

Every year, approximately two million young people enter the labor market in Bangladesh, making it crucial to provide them with decent work opportunities. The ILO understands that this isn't just an economic imperative, but a matter of social justice.

To bridge the gap between education and labor market demand, the ILO has implemented skills development programs like the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), supported by the World Bank. Over 800,000 youth have been trained through this program, with more than 70% finding jobs in sectors such as ICT and renewable energy.

The ILO also acknowledges the need to address gender disparities, with less than 37% of women participating in the workforce in Bangladesh. To rectify this, the organization is working towards increasing women's economic participation as part of its inclusive youth empowerment efforts.

Moreover, the ILO is promoting sustainable development and youth-led innovation, supporting young people in digital technology, climate action, green industries, and community projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advocating for policy and social dialogue is another key focus for the ILO. The organization stresses the importance of strategic youth representation in policymaking, pushing for reforms to education, health investment, and gender equality to unlock Bangladesh’s demographic dividend.

The ILO also recognizes the importance of workforce inclusion, as approximately 30% of youth in Bangladesh are neither employed nor in training. Strengthening access to training and job creation initiatives is a priority, especially in the context of recent political upheavals and job market challenges in Bangladesh.

While the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) is a separate national organization working for labour rights and decent work across sectors, its objectives align closely with ILO’s goals in the country.

Ming Song, a 20-year-old woman from the Khasi community in Sylhet, is one example of youth empowerment. She is a tour guide promoting homestay tourism in her village, demonstrating the potential of youth-led initiatives.

However, challenges remain. 12% of university graduates in Bangladesh remain unemployed, and a large number of youth work in the informal economy, where jobs are often uncertain, underpaid, and excluded from labor protections.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2025, the ILO remains committed to helping young people overcome these challenges and build a more inclusive, just, and resilient economy in Bangladesh.

Sources:

[1] ILO Bangladesh (2021). Youth employment in Bangladesh: Challenges and opportunities. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---country/bd/documents/publication/wcms_770617.pdf

[2] ILO Bangladesh (2020). COVID-19: Protecting jobs, promoting safe and secure work and supporting enterprises. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---country/bd/documents/publication/wcms_753029.pdf

[3] ILO Bangladesh (2019). Skills for employment investment programme (SEIP): Fourth evaluation. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---country/bd/documents/publication/wcms_730437.pdf

[4] Bangladesh Labour Foundation (2020). About us. Retrieved from https://blfbd.org/about-us/

[5] ILO (2021). Green industries: The future of work. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/green-industries/lang--en/index.htm

  1. Recognizing the need for decent work opportunities for youth in Bangladesh, the ILO has implemented programs like the Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), focusing on sectors such as ICT and renewable energy.
  2. With over 800,000 youth trained through the SEIP, the ILO aims to bridge the gap between education and labor market demand, striving for a more inclusive and resilient economy.
  3. The ILO also addresses gender disparities, working towards increasing women's economic participation to overcome the current statistics where less than 37% of women participate in the workforce.
  4. Sustainable development and youth-led innovation are promoted by the ILO, supporting initiatives in digital technology, climate action, green industries, and community projects.
  5. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the ILO advocates for strategic youth representation in policymaking, pushing for reforms in areas like education, health investment, and gender equality.
  6. Addressing challenges in the job market and promoting youth-led initiatives, the ILO has been instrumental in empowering youth like Ming Song, a 20-year-old tour guide from the Khasi community, demonstrating the potential of these initiatives.
  7. Despite progress, challenges persist, as 12% of university graduates remain unemployed, and a significant number work in the informal economy, often facing uncertain and underpaid jobs without labor protections.
  8. To combat these challenges and build a more inclusive, just, and resilient economy, the ILO remains committed to helping young people, approaching the 10th anniversary of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2025.
  9. Parallel to the ILO, the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) works for labor rights and decent work across sectors, sharing similar objectives.
  10. Entrepreneurship can be an avenue for personal growth, as evidenced by Ming Song, who is a tour guide promoting homestay tourism in her village.
  11. As policymaking impact AFters career development, education, and self-development, the ILO emphasizes the importance of strategic youth representation in shaping these areas.
  12. In the realm of finance, investing in small businesses, real-estate, or venture capital offers opportunities for wealth creation, underpinned by the continued growth of technology, data and cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other emerging sectors. Furthermore, skills training can help individuals excel in these areas, becoming competent in areas such as fashion-and-beauty, sports, sports-betting, entertainment, social media, and general news.

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