Unemployment poses a significant threat to economies, leading to social unrest, poverty, and reduced productivity [41258b86]. In Pakistan, over 70% of female engineering graduates are unemployed or out of the labor force [41258b86]. Similarly, in Bangladesh, the unemployment rate among graduates is high, with 12% of graduates being unemployed [35396ff2]. These statistics highlight the gender disparity in engineering employment and the growing rate of joblessness among educated youth.
In Pakistan, the low employment rate of female engineering graduates raises concerns about resource utilization [41258b86]. Many of these women are married, suggesting that education is primarily sought for marriage prospects rather than careers [41258b86]. Experts emphasize the need for dialogue, policy review, and more equitable opportunities for female engineers [41258b86]. Factors contributing to high unemployment include a gap between the labor force and job opportunities, a mismatch between skills and market requirements, and a reliance on the informal sector [41258b86]. Addressing unemployment requires structural reforms, improving education, promoting entrepreneurship, and investing in infrastructure [41258b86]. Public-private partnerships can also play a role in creating job opportunities [41258b86].
In Bangladesh, the gender gap in labor markets persists, with women earning lower incomes and facing barriers to market access [21cccf0c]. Although Bangladesh has made progress in supporting working women through initiatives such as contraception diffusion, reduced child morbidity, and increased investments in female education, challenges remain [21cccf0c]. The gender gap in earnings per month has increased from 12% in 2010 to 22% in 2022 [21cccf0c]. Women are underrepresented in the labor market and are predominantly engaged in informal work [21cccf0c]. Parenthood and barriers to market access contribute to the limited entry and utilization of employed females [21cccf0c]. Bangladesh needs to address gender inequality in social institutions for economic and social development [21cccf0c].
Italy also faces gender gaps in its labor market, with one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the EU and the lowest employment rate [8a4071b6]. Gender gaps in earnings are already large just one year after individuals complete their education, with girls choosing lower-paying university majors than boys [8a4071b6]. These gaps widen when women have children, and women are severely under-represented in top professional positions [8a4071b6]. Policy interventions in Italy include combating cultural barriers and stereotypes, increasing the supply of childcare facilities for young children, and reinforcing women's presence in middle management, including through quotas [8a4071b6].
In India, a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the high and increasing unemployment rate among educated youth, which is higher than the global levels [13bbc3bd]. The jobless rate for graduates in India was 29.1%, almost nine times higher than the 3.4% for those who can't read or write [13bbc3bd]. The unemployment rate for young people with secondary or higher education was six times higher at 18.4% [13bbc3bd]. The figures suggest a sharp mismatch between the skills of the labor force and the jobs being created in the market [13bbc3bd]. Women are particularly hard hit, accounting for 76.7% of the educated unemployed youths compared with 62.2% for men [13bbc3bd]. The report also cautioned about the rise in gig jobs and the challenges they pose for the well-being and working conditions of workers [13bbc3bd].
Bangladesh also faces challenges in graduate employability, with a surplus of highly educated university graduates who remain unemployed or underemployed [97e960de]. The unemployment rate for men in Bangladesh rose to 3.59%, compared to 3.27% in the last quarter of 2023, while the rate for females rose to 3.36% from 3.06% in the same period [97e960de]. The industrial sector in Bangladesh has seen growth, employing 12.7 million people during the January-March period of this year, but the domestic manufacturing sector, which employs highly educated youth, has been in decline [97e960de]. The education system in Bangladesh has been criticized for producing poorly-trained graduates who lack the necessary skills for the job market [97e960de]. Collaboration between governments, universities, and the private sector is essential to improving graduate employability in Bangladesh [97e960de] [41258b86] [35396ff2] [21cccf0c] [8a4071b6] [13bbc3bd].