Bangladesh moving in wrong direction on job creation: Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman

Bangla Press Desk:    Bangladesh is moving in the opposite direction of employment generation, economist Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman has observed. 

According to him, the contraction of productive sectors, uncertainty in the labour market, and deficits in skills and marketing are collectively weakening job prospects in the country.

He made the remarks yesterday (Sunday) at a discussion titled “Beyond Jobless Growth: Towards an Employment-Centred Policy Framework for Bangladesh Through a Post-Neoliberal Lens”, held at the Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. 

The event was jointly organised by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh.

Dr Zillur noted that although GDP growth over the past decade has been satisfactory, employment growth has not kept pace. He expressed concern particularly over the failure to generate expected levels of new jobs in the industrial, small business and service sectors. “At a time when optimism about the economy should prevail, job uncertainty among the youth is rising rapidly,” he said.

He pointed out that although a large section of the population is employed in the informal sector, their incomes remain stagnant, job security is uncertain and access to social protection is limited.

Technological transformation and automation are reshaping the labour market, yet inadequate investment in skills development has prevented the expected momentum in employment generation. A decline in non-farm activities in the rural economy, slow expansion of overseas labour markets and uncertainty surrounding remittance flows also pose significant challenges to employment, he added.

To overcome stagnation in job creation, Dr Zillur outlined three priority actions: increasing investment and policy support for productive sectors, ensuring demand-driven skills development, facilitating finance for small and young entrepreneurs, and incentivising innovation-driven sectors. “It is essential to restructure our development strategy around employment growth,” he said. “Without restoring momentum in job creation, development will not be sustainable.”

In his remarks as special guest, ILO Bangladesh Country Director Mr Max Tunon underscored the need to strengthen labour rights, coordinate regional employment strategies, improve childcare policies and enhance productivity to ensure quality job creation.

Speaking as guest of honour, Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha said employment growth depends on improvements in productivity, inclusive labour force participation, skills development and proper alignment with private sector demand. Targeted incentives, rural investment, labour rights protection and support for freelancers can play an effective role in reducing youth unemployment, she noted.

The keynote paper was presented by Dr M A Razzaque.

He stated that recent patterns of economic growth have failed to create sufficient quality employment for young people and women. Skills mismatch, widespread informal work, weak labour infrastructure and the disconnect between employment and GDP growth are putting the country’s demographic dividend at risk. Despite having employment-related policies, most remain aspirational, lacking practical action plans and sufficient financing. He called for industrial, trade and macroeconomic policies to be reoriented towards employment creation.

Economist Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha and others also spoke at the event.

BP/SP