Investing in youth upskilling is crucial for unlocking Bangladesh's economic potential and ensuring inclusive growth. As the nation transitions towards a digital and knowledge-based economy, bridging the gap between education and industry needs becomes increasingly critical. Equipping young individuals with relevant technical, digital, and soft skills can mitigate unemployment, enhance workforce productivity, and enable greater participation in high-value sectors such as ICT, manufacturing, and services. A skilled youth population also positions Bangladesh as an attractive destination for investment and innovation. Aligning upskilling initiatives with national development goals is essential for sustaining long-term progress.

Bangladesh boasts a significant young population, with 27.96% of its citizens aged between 15-29 years, according to the 2023 census. This demographic represents a substantial portion of the workforce, predominantly under the age of 35. While this youthful workforce holds immense potential for economic growth and societal advancement, it faces considerable challenges in employment and skill development. Many young graduates struggle to secure jobs due to a disconnect between academic curricula and industry requirements.

The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reported that 39.88% of youth were neither studying nor working or engaged in any form of training in 2023. This pressing issue stems from the lack of industry-level skills among the youth. The traditional education system fails to equip young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in emerging sectors such as IT, digital services, and telecommunications. Consequently, many skilled individuals opt to leave the country for better educational opportunities abroad, contributing to brain drain.

While traditional education systems lag behind industry demands, the rise of automation and artificial intelligence further widens the skills gap. A 2023 study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) revealed that 56% of Bangladeshi employers struggle to find workers with advanced digital competencies. This gap is exacerbated by regional and gender disparities. While the nation has made collective strides in expanding access to education, gender disparities prevail in STEM fields. Only 21% of the country's STEM graduates are female, reflecting a significant gap in female representation in these domains.

To address youth unemployability, the government has implemented various training and upskilling initiatives. However, these efforts have not sufficed to meet the growing demands of the population. Public sector initiatives often face bureaucratic delays and outdated curricula, lacking relevance to the industry and failing to cater to its evolving needs. Collaboration with the private sector is paramount to overcoming these challenges.

Several private organisations have introduced specialised training and mentorship programs focusing on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and leadership. These programs provide opportunities for individuals to stay abreast of global and industry trends. Partnerships between academic institutions and private companies are instrumental in shaping a skilled, competent, and competitive workforce.

As Bangladesh's leading digital operator, Banglalink has launched numerous upskilling initiatives to create a future-ready youth workforce. At Banglalink, deliberate and future-forward initiatives are propelling the nation's youth toward employability through a robust ecosystem of learning, mentorship, and innovation. These efforts are strategically designed not only to address the widening gap between academia and industry, but to equip emerging talent with real-world experience, technical dexterity, and leadership readiness.

Flagship initiatives like 'Learn from the Leaders' have hosted over 20 annual campus engagements, connecting students directly with Banglalink's seasoned experts from technology, digital, and commercial domains. These sessions offer valuable perspectives on industry disruptions, digital trends, and evolving skill requirements, bringing academic curiosity into conversation with corporate foresight. 'Campus to Corporate', a high-impact one-day exposure program, conducts multiple sessions across the country, reinforcing the shift toward cross-functional, agile talent. This initiative demystifies the transition from classroom to meeting rooms, giving students a panoramic view of the modern workplace and its expectations.

Digitalyst, Banglalink's internship program, onboards 60-120 students annually from over 20 public and private universities. Interns are immersed in structured mentorship, digital project work, and strategic initiatives that fast-track them into long-term career pipelines. Notably, three Digitalysts from the 2025 cohorts alone have already secured roles across Banglalink's own flagship onboarding programs such as SAP (Strategic Assistant Program) and femPOWER (Female Sales Trainee Program). These structured traineeship programs, namely SAP and femPOWER, offer rigorous on-the-job training, leadership grooming, and direct placements into core roles—acting as stepping stones for high-potential young professionals.

Banglalink's commitment to inclusion is exemplified through Womentor, a curated mentorship platform for young women in STEM. Tailored to foster leadership and digital fluency, the program has yielded success, with one mentee from the 2025 batch securing a position in SAP, underscoring the real impact of gender-inclusive talent development.

Ennovators - Banglalink's flagship digital ideation competition—receives over 6,000 student applications each year. Finalists are fast-tracked into the Strategic Assistant Program, transforming entrepreneurial ideas into actionable careers. Likewise, Banglalink's Campus Ambassador Program functions as a unique experiential learning opportunity, with top performers gaining priority access to internship pipelines. Together, these varied yet interconnected programs form a powerful blueprint for youth enablement, where exposure meets execution, and potential meets placement.

Addressing the growing challenge of youth unemployment in Bangladesh requires coordinated action from both public and private sectors. Organisations must proactively design and implement upskilling and training programs that equip young people with market-relevant skills. These initiatives should extend beyond short-term solutions and focus on building long-term capabilities through hands-on training, mentorship, and career guidance. A collaborative approach—bringing together government agencies, private enterprises, development partners, and educational institutions—is key to ensuring scalable and impactful efforts. Strengthening industry-academia linkages can help align curricula with evolving job market demands while expanding access to digital learning platforms can democratise skill development, especially in underserved regions. Establishing a culture of continuous learning and professional development will empower the youth to adapt to a rapidly changing world of work. By fostering a system of continuous learning and professional growth, Bangladesh can harness the potential of youth for economic and social development.

The writer is the Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer of Banglalink.