Special Correspondent :
The number of unemployed individuals in the country continues to rise amidst the economic crisis and soaring inflation, leading to the closure of numerous factories, offices, and educational institutions.
Many citizens, grappling with job losses, have retreated from major urban centres such as Dhaka and Chattogram to their rural homesteads.
In a recent report released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on May 6, concerning the unemployment gender gap, a notable trend emerged.
The report reveals that while the number of unemployed men surged in the first quarter of this year due to dwindling job prospects, the number of unemployed women witnessed a decline.
According to the BBS data, the count of jobless men increased by 2 percent year-on-year to 17.4 lakh during the January–March period of 2024, up from 17.10 lakh the previous year.
Conversely, the number of unemployed women dwindled by 3 percent to 8.5 lakh by the end of March 2024, down from 8.80 lakh a year ago.
This decrease among women contributed to a 2 percent reduction in the overall number of unemployed individuals.
Aminur Rahman, formerly employed at a private company, shared his plight, saying, “I have lost my job as the firm shut down due to the economic crisis during the COVID pandemic period.
Now I have been searching for a new job.” He further lamented the hardships faced by his 3-member family in their village home in Kurigram district.
Ali Azam, a private car driver, narrated his ordeal after losing his job due to the closure of the garment factory where he was employed.
He stated, “I now reside in my home village, Tangail, with my wife and two children. I have resorted to driving an autorickshaw on rent, earning only Tk 250 to Tk 350 per day after paying Tk 500 as rent. It is exceedingly challenging for me to sustain my family with such meagre earnings.”
Official data indicates a gradual rise in the number of female-headed households in
Bangladesh, despite the traditional dominance of male-headed households.
According to the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2023, women now lead 17.4 percent of households in the country, compared to 16 percent in 2021, 15 percent in 2020, 14.6 percent in 2019, and 14.2 percent in 2018.
Furthermore, insights from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) suggest that while the uneducated populace often engages in any available work, the educated unemployed tend to remain idle until suitable opportunities arise.
Despite avenues such as online businesses, coaching, and entrepreneurial ventures like opening burger shops gaining popularity among the educated, many still identify themselves as unemployed.
Experts have hailed the decline in female unemployment as a positive development, underscoring women’s increasing contribution to the nation’s economy.
They emphasise the significance of women’s skills and their expanding role as heads of households. However, concerns loom over the escalating male unemployment rates, with many men shouldering family responsibilities single-handedly.
Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said, “The decrease in female unemployment is encouraging as they are contributing to the country’s growing economy.”
