In a major policy initiative aimed at tackling Bangladesh’s growing unemployment challenge, the government is moving forward with plans to establish a nationwide digital Employment Exchange system alongside district and upazila-level Employment Exchange Centers, creating a centralized platform to connect job seekers with employers across the country.

The initiative, being developed under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is part of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government’s election pledge to modernize employment services through technology and improve access to job opportunities.

According to ministry officials, the proposal is currently under review by the Technical Committee (Pre-NICAR) of the Ministry of Public Administration. Once revised in line with the committee’s recommendations, it will be submitted to the Cabinet Division for final approval.

A Digital Marketplace for Jobs

Under the proposed system, job seekers will be able to register online by submitting their educational qualifications, professional skills and work experience. At the same time, government agencies and private-sector employers will upload information on vacant positions and workforce requirements.

The digital platform will then automatically match candidates with available jobs based on their qualifications, skills and experience. Individuals lacking the necessary competencies for suitable positions will be referred to technical and vocational training institutions to improve their employability.

Officials say the new system is designed not only to provide employment information but also to develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting current and future labour market demands.

Employment Directorate Under Review

The government is simultaneously reviewing the establishment of a new Directorate of Employment, which will oversee the Employment Exchange system.

A senior Labour Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal is undergoing further review following the formation of the new government.

“Several meetings have been held to refine the proposal. Therefore, it is still too early to confirm the final structure, name or operational responsibilities of the new directorate,” the official said.

The proposal originally envisioned an organization with more than 2,000 employees. However, the Public Administration Ministry asked the Labour Ministry to reduce the proposed workforce and submit a more practical organizational structure.

Rather than prescribing a specific staffing level, the Pre-NICAR committee advised the ministry to establish a lean and efficient institution.

Aligned with BNP Election Manifesto

Government officials say the revised proposal is now being aligned with the BNP’s election manifesto, which promised the creation of a transparent and reliable employment exchange platform.

The manifesto pledged to establish a nationwide system where unemployed individuals could register and be matched with vacancies according to their qualifications and skills.

It also promised skills development opportunities for those lacking the qualifications required by employers, drug testing for job applicants in certain sectors, and unemployment allowances for educated youth for a specified period.

According to the manifesto, Bangladesh currently has more than 2.7 million unemployed people, including approximately 900,000 university graduates. It also notes that around 22 percent of young people aged 15 to 29 are not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET).

To address the challenge, the government has pledged to create 10 million jobs nationwide under its “Work for the Nation” employment strategy.

Long-Standing Proposal Revived

The idea of establishing a dedicated Employment Directorate is not new.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment first initiated the proposal before 2020 with the objective of creating a national employment database, conducting labour market research, forecasting workforce demand, and coordinating employment planning.

The earlier plan also envisioned divisional and district-level offices and training centers to monitor labour market trends and prepare the workforce for emerging industries, including those driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

However, the initiative stalled after failing to complete the required administrative approval process.

The proposal resurfaced during the tenure of the interim government, when Labour and Employment Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hossain confirmed that discussions on establishing the Employment Directorate were ongoing.

Technology-Driven Employment Services

Labour Ministry Additional Secretary (Development Division) A S M Ashraful Islam said the revised proposal focuses on building a fully digital employment ecosystem.

“The Employment Exchange Center will be a completely digital platform where job seekers will upload their qualifications, skills and experience, while employers will post vacancies and workforce requirements. The system will match candidates with available positions based on competency,” he said.

He added that individuals requiring additional skills would be directed to appropriate technical or vocational training institutions, ensuring the platform contributes not only to job placement but also to workforce development.

Officials believe that once approved, the initiative will create Bangladesh’s first integrated national employment database, enabling policymakers to better understand labour market trends while making recruitment, skills development and employment planning more efficient and data-driven.