Dhaka, Bangladesh – [ November 6, 2025] – Bacharlorai Global’s Policy Residency Program today announces the public release of its pivotal new policy brief, Jobs for the Future: Bridging Urban-Rural Unemployment Inequities of Bangladeshi Youth, highlighting the urgent need to address the growing youth unemployment crisis fueled by the urban-rural divide. The comprehensive report calls for coordinated national actions to drive youth potential, strengthen institutional frameworks, innovate the education system and skills development, and promote inclusive job creation across the country. The brief was unveiled at the World Bank, IMF Annual Meeting on October 15, 2025 at the ‘Jobs for the Future Briefing Event’. Xinyuan Xu Shirley presented to the audience including the analysis and recommendations from the brief. Notable attendees included Syed Nuruddin Ahmed, Managing Trustee, Center for Inclusive Development.

The brief concludes that the current policy landscape fails to adequately address the structural challenges and creates a pipeline of underutilized human capital. According to the brief, 69% of unemployed youth in Bangladesh live in rural regions, where underemployment and informality dominate. Despite steady economic growth of over 25% GDP growth between 2017 and 2022, the employment opportunities have failed to keep pace. Cities like Dhaka generate 89% of the country’s GDP, while rural areas continue to struggle with limited access to quality education, training, and are dominated by informal and seasonal employment.
“The right to dignified employment should be universal and non-negotiable for everyone. This policy brief serves as a blueprint, shining light on the profound struggles of Bangladeshi youth and clearly charting the path the government can take to ensure their talents are given all the resources needed for them to thrive” Aditi Zahir, Director of Policy Research, BL

Key Findings from the Policy Brief:
22% of young people—about 6 million—are not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
Bangladesh’s total labor force stands at 73.5 million, including 21.5 million women, but female participation, particularly in urban areas, has declined since 2017.
Rural areas account for 68% of total employment, yet most jobs remain informal and low-paid.
Despite steady economic growth from 2017–2022, youth unemployment remains above 10%, revealing a pattern of jobless growth.

Policy Recommendations:
The policy brief provides a clear path forward through four actionable recommendations, drawn from successful international case studies in countries like India, South Korea, and Japan:
Aggressive Job Creation: Implement targeted incentives to stimulate private sector investment and job growth in non-metro, rural-adjacent economic zones.
Improve Job Quality and Reduce Skills Mismatch: Overhaul Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curricula to align directly with the projected demands of the modern, green, and digital economies.
Establish a National Action Plan (NAP): Create a unified, inter-ministerial strategy to coordinate youth employment initiatives and specifically target urban-rural equity, moving away from fragmented, siloed programs.
Leverage Agricultural Transition: Invest in modernizing and digitizing the agriculture sector to transform traditional farming roles into high-skill, profitable rural career paths.

“Behind every data point in this brief is a young person whose future is waiting to be written. The question is not whether Bangladesh can create jobs, but whether those jobs can reach everyone. By investing in skills, inclusion, and regional equity, we can build a future where growth is shared, and opportunity is no longer defined by a postal code.”- Nahid Tahrima (Renee) Rashid, Policy Resident 2024-25

About the Policy Brief
Jobs for the Future was produced under the BacharLorai Policy Residency 2025, a platform that empowers young researchers to address pressing national challenges through data-driven policy analysis. The brief combines quantitative research from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) with stakeholder consultations and international case studies to propose scalable, evidence-based solutions for sustainable youth employment.