As the global economy and technological advancements reshape job markets, Bangladeshi graduates face heightened competition and skill mismatches, underscoring the need for educational reform and stronger industry connections. The issue of talent shortage has become a significant challenge in Bangladesh’s job recruitment process.
Recent reports reveal a concerning mismatch between the skills of job seekers and the requirements of employers, leading some organizations to even cancel recruitment processes due to a lack of qualified candidates. One such case involved Bangladesh Bank, where the recruitment process for the post of Assistant Maintenance Engineer (Grade IX) was cancelled after exams held on February 4, 2023, failed to yield suitable candidates. This shortage of skilled professionals highlights an urgent need for reforms in education and training to bridge the gap.
To better understand the reasons behind this talent shortage and to examine recent graduates’ experiences and explores the relationship between business education quality, networking opportunities, skill mismatches, and employment outcomes, researchers from Daffodil International University (DIU), led by the Dean of the Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship (FBE), conducted a study involving respondents from Bangladesh, including HR professionals and policymakers from both public and private sectors. Findings were presented at a seminar on November 9, 2024, organized by DIU’s FBE. The seminar featured Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, as Chief Guest, and Mr. Syed Mamunul Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education, as Special Guest. Professor Dr. Mohammed Masum Iqbal (Dean, FBE) chaired the event, with Professor Dr. Syed Mizanur Rahman (Associate Dean, FBE) facilitating. Assistant Professors Dr. Mohammad Reyad Hossain and Dr. Md. Mamun Mia presented two studies examining talent shortages and employability challenges in Bangladesh.
Dr. Md. Mamun Mia showed a strong positive relationship between academic preparedness, effective networking, and the employability of business graduates. Graduates with better academic training and networking opportunities are more likely to secure jobs. Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammad Reyad Hossain highlighted several key factors contributing to the talent shortage in Bangladesh’s recruitment process. These include skill mismatches, underemployment, inadequate labor market information, ineffective recruitment strategies, and a lack of collaboration between academia and industry. To address the talent shortage issues in Bangladesh, the study offers key recommendations, with a focus on industry- academia collaboration. In both of the studies, policymakers are encouraged to offer incentives, such as tax breaks for companies investing in employee training, to build a more skilled workforce. The session ended with the concluding remarks from Professor Dr. Mohammed Masum Iqbal (Dean, FBE).
Caption: Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Mr. Syed Mamunul Alam, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Prof. Dr. M Lutfar Rahman, Vice Chancellor, Daffodil International University along the researchers at the Research Dissemination Seminar program organized by Faculty of Business & Entrepreneurship (FBE) of Daffodil International University.
