Staff Reporter :
A study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) revealed that over one-quarter of graduates from colleges under the National University remain unemployed, with the majority of those who are employed securing low-paying jobs.
The study found that 28.24 percent of graduates are unemployed, with 19.96 percent of male graduates and 34.31 percent of female graduates facing unemployment, indicating disproportionately higher unemployment rates among women.
The findings were presented on the third day of the “Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2024,” during the session titled “BIDS Work III: Education and Health” in Dhaka.
SM Zulfiqar Ali, research director at BIDS, presented the paper titled “Understanding Unemployment Among College Graduates.” The study surveyed 608 colleges under the National University, selecting 61 colleges, and included 1,340 graduates, 670 current students, 61 college principals, and 100 employers.
The research revealed that 16.2 percent of graduates are self-employed, while 13.22 percent work part-time while studying. The unemployment rate among graduates in rural areas is 1.5 times higher than in urban areas.
Graduates from non-science subjects experience a higher unemployment rate than those in science disciplines, with BA (pass), Political Science, Library Management, Bangla, and Islamic History having notably higher unemployment.
However, graduates specialising in English, economics, accounting, sociology, and finance and banking had lower unemployment rates. Approximately 36 percent of graduates are employed in teaching positions, while others work as officers or assistant officers.
The study also found that 43.13 percent of graduates expressed an interest in pursuing government jobs, primarily aiming for positions in the public sector.
Additionally, the report highlighted challenges faced by colleges, including poor student attendance, lack of provisions for technical, soft, and socio-emotional skills, and the limited demand for many subjects offered, such as General History, Islamic History, Political Science, and Philosophy. It also noted a lack of collaboration between colleges and industries.
SM Zulfiqar Ali recommended improving the quality of teaching and learning, incorporating teachers’ feedback, offering market-based learning facilities, and integrating co-curricular and soft-skill activities to enhance education quality at National University-affiliated colleges.
