Graduates Without Jobs: Why Gen Z Must Bridge the Skill Gap

Latiful Kabir

For decades, Bangladesh has celebrated its progress in expanding access to education. More schools, more colleges, more universities—and more graduates each year. Yet the irony is stark: even as education rates rise, meaningful employment remains out of reach for millions of young people.

This paradox defines the reality of Bangladesh’s Gen Z—the most educated generation in the country’s history, but also one of the most uncertain about its future.

The Education Boom—and Its Blind Spot

In the last two decades, Bangladesh’s literacy rate has surged, and university enrolment has multiplied. But as classrooms filled up, the connection between education and employment broke down.

The traditional system—centred on memorization and rigid curricula—prepares students to pass exams, not to solve problems. Employers across industries complain that many university graduates lack critical skills in communication, digital literacy, and teamwork.

For a generation raised on smartphones and social media, this mismatch feels particularly disorienting. Many Gen Z graduates find themselves with degrees but no direction.

The Skill Mismatch Problem

Global reports repeatedly highlight Bangladesh’s growing skills gap. Employers in IT, manufacturing, and the service sector say that a huge number of entry-level applicants lack practical competencies—coding, business analytics, English fluency, or even basic project management.

This isn’t just a Bangladesh problem. Across South Asia, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)—defined by automation, AI, and digital transformation—is rewriting the rules of employment. Yet, education systems remain stuck in the industrial-age model, producing graduates for jobs that no longer exist.

The consequence is a generation that feels simultaneously overqualified and underprepared—a dangerous mix that fuels frustration, migration, and social unrest.

The Way Forward: Skills Over Degrees

For Gen Z, the shift in mindset begins here: education alone is not empowerment—applicable education is.

In the coming decade, skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, digital design, AI literacy, and emotional intelligence will define employability. Online platforms—Coursera, edX, Google Career Certificates—already offer opportunities to bridge that gap.

Lifelong learning is no longer optional. A university degree is just the beginning, not the guarantee.

Equally important is collaboration between academia and industry. Universities must work with employers to redesign curricula around real-world problems. Internship programs, innovation labs, and research partnerships can turn classrooms into incubators of experience, not just theory.

Vocational education, long dismissed as “second-class,” also deserves new respect. Electricians, technicians, and health aides will remain indispensable in a digitized economy. In Germany, Japan, and South Korea, technical skills form the backbone of national productivity. Bangladesh can learn from that model.