ABSTRACT
The chapter captures the diversity and dynamics in the labour market in terms of multiple segmentations where self-employed/own-account workers are dominant who undertake demand creation activities. The key employment challenge in Bangladesh is related to youth employment and women’s labour force participation. The analysis identifies three major aspects relevant to shaping the future labour market landscape--urbanisation and the need to bridge the infrastructure gaps; automation, knowledge-intensive work and new digital ecosystems; and independent (gig economy) work. The emphasis has to be on keeping young girls (and boys) in schools and ensuring that they receive quality education beyond secondary level and are able to take advantage of demand-relevant training opportunities. A conscious effort of the government including targeted spending on initiatives and changing regulation of private-sector investment and innovation are needed to remove barriers to gainful employment. These will be highly rewarding through creating a more fulfilled, better rewarded, and more productive labour force in Bangladesh, a pre-requisite for inclusive development.
