IMF report: 36% of educated youth in Bangladesh are unemployed

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) report published in the September issue of ‘Finance & Development’ reveals that 36 percent of educated youth in Bangladesh are unemployed. This rate is significantly higher than the overall youth unemployment rate of approximately 10 percent for the 15–24 age group.

The IMF describes this phenomenon as a ‘graduate glut,’ noting that highly educated individuals are struggling to find jobs that match their qualifications. Within South Asia, Bangladesh's rate of 36 percent follows Sri Lanka at 43 percent and India at 42 percent. In contrast, Southeast Asian nations report lower rates, such as Indonesia at 18 percent and Singapore at 8 percent.

The report highlights that the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation is displacing entry-level roles—such as junior engineers, animators, and administrative staff—that traditionally provided opportunities for new graduates. In Bangladesh, experts note that while the number of graduates has increased significantly over the last two decades, the economic structure and industrial base have not expanded sufficiently to absorb the growing labor supply.