BBS survey finds 4.18 per cent of workforce unemployed

Around 26 lakh of the 6.21-crore-strong labour force of Bangladesh were unemployed in 2015–16, according to the 13th Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), which was released yesterday. According to the report, 4.18 per cent of the country’s workforce is currently unemployed.
BBS released the report of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) 2015–16, the first-ever quarterly survey. The QLFS was the 13th Labour Force Survey and was conducted in close collaboration with the World Bank for the first time.
The BBS report also shows that 14 lakh new jobs have been created in the country since 2015.
Presided over by BBS director-general Mohammad Amir Hossain, the programme was addressed by World Bank country director Qimiao Fan, Dhaka University Professor Dr Barkat-e-Khoda and others.
The director of the BBS’s statistics and information division, Kabir Uddin Ahmed, made a presentation on the survey report.
The report said the number of people in the workforce has increased by 1.4 million to 62.1 million in 2015–16 from 60.7 million in 2013.
The number of male members of the labour force registered a small increase of 6.0 lakh, from 42.5 million in 2013 to 43.1 million in 2015–16, while the number of female members increased by 9.0 lakh from 18.1 million during that period.
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for females was 35.6 per cent in 2015–16, with an increase of 2.1 percentage points from 33.5 per cent in 2013. A small increase of 0.2 percentage point in LFPR also occurred in the male population, from 81.7 to 81.9 per cent.
The LFPR increased to 58.5 per cent, with a corresponding decrease in the unemployment rate by 4.2 per cent in 2015–16.
Over the years, the Bangladesh labour market has seen an improvement in the LFPR, with a rise to 58.5 per cent in 2015–16 from 57.1 in 2013, or a total of 62.1 million among the total working age population of 106.8 million. Of these 62.1 million people, a total of 59.5 million was employed, while 2.6 million were unemployed in 2015–16.
Over the years, the Bangladesh labour market continued to see an improvement in LFPR, with a decrease in the number of unpaid family helpers to 8.6 million in 2015–16 from 10.6 million in 2013. For females, it decreased by 1.7 million (20.2 per cent) in 2015–16, from 8.4 million in 2013.
Most of the people outside the labour force were female, but the number decreased by 1.6 million (4.4 per cent) to 34.5 million in 2015–16 from 36.1 million in 2013. Meanwhile, the number of males outside the labour force remained stable at 9.5 million during that period.
The contribution of the agricultural sector to employment remains the highest, at 42.7 per cent, while it was 45.1 per cent in 2013.
This is followed by the service sector, with 36.9 per cent; the smallest proportion is contributed by the industrial sector, at 20.5 per cent.
There was an increase in the employment in the service sector by 11.1 per cent from 19.8 million to 22.0 million.
Demonstrating that education is an important element in employability, the LFPR showed a rising trend for those with primary, secondary, and tertiary education in 2015–16.
The group with tertiary education showed the highest LFPR of 77.5 per cent, primary education 65.7 per cent, no education 59.3 per cent, and secondary education 52.1 per cent.
In terms of occupation, skilled agricultural workers accounted for the largest share of the total employed population at 32.8 per cent. Around 17.4 per cent were employed in elementary occupations, 15.6 per cent in services and sales, followed by 16.2 per cent in craft and related trades.
Of the 14.4 per cent working in the manufacturing sector, the highest share (52.0 per cent) was in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, while 23.7 per cent was engaged in the textile sector.
One-third (32.5 per cent) of the employed lack formal education. More than 15.4 million employed workers (25.9 per cent) have completed primary education, while more than 17.9 million (30.1 per cent) have completed secondary education.
A total of 15 per cent per cent of employment was in the unpaid/contributing family helper category, with 8.6 million people, as compared to 10.6 million in 2013. In addition, this category was dominated by females, while males were at 22.5 per cent.
The female unemployment rate went down to 6.8 per cent in 2015–16 (from 7.3 per cent in 2013), while the male unemployment rate remained the same at 3 per cent.
The majority of unemployed people lived in urban areas. However, the unemployment rate in urban areas (4.4 per cent) was higher than in rural areas (4.1 per cent) in 2015¬–16.
The unemployment rate was the highest among the population aged 20–24 years, at around 10.4 per cent overall. The unemployment rate of females in the 20–24 age group was higher (12.8 per cent) than that of males (9.1 per cent).

 

BBS survey finds 4.18 per cent of workforce unemployed

Around 26 lakh of the 6.21-crore-strong labour force of Bangladesh were unemployed in 201516, according to the 13th Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), which was released yesterday. According to the report, 4.18 per cent of the countrys workforce is currently unemployed. BBS released the report of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) 201516, the first-ever quarterly survey. The QLFS was the 13th Labour Force Survey and was conducted in close collaboration with the World Bank for the first time. The BBS report also shows that 14 lakh new jobs have been created in the country since 2015. Presided over by BBS director-general Mohammad Amir Hossain, the programme was addressed by World Bank country director Qimiao Fan, Dhaka University Professor Dr Barkat-e-Khoda and others. The director of the BBSs statistics and information division, Kabir Uddin Ahmed, made a presentation on the survey report. The report said the number of people in the workforce has increased by 1.4 million to 62.1 million in 201516 from 60.7 million in 2013. The number of male members of the labour force registered a small increase of 6.0 lakh, from 42.5 million in 2013 to 43.1 million in 201516, while the number of female members increased by 9.0 lakh from 18.1 million during that period. The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for females was 35.6 per cent in 201516, with an increase of 2.1 percentage points from 33.5 per cent in 2013. A small increase of 0.2 percentage point in LFPR also occurred in the male population, from 81.7 to 81.9 per cent. The LFPR increased to 58.5 per cent, with a corresponding decrease in the unemployment rate by 4.2 per cent in 201516. Over the years, the Bangladesh labour market has seen an improvement in the LFPR, with a rise to 58.5 per cent in 201516 from 57.1 in 2013, or a total of 62.1 million among the total working age population of 106.8 million. Of these 62.1 million people, a total of 59.5 million was employed, while 2.6 million were unemployed in 201516. Over the years, the Bangladesh labour market continued to see an improvement in LFPR, with a decrease in the number of unpaid family helpers to 8.6 million in 201516 from 10.6 million in 2013. For females, it decreased by 1.7 million (20.2 per cent) in 201516, from 8.4 million in 2013. Most of the people outside the labour force were female, but the number decreased by 1.6 million (4.4 per cent) to 34.5 million in 201516 from 36.1 million in 2013. Meanwhile, the number of males outside the labour force remained stable at 9.5 million during that period. The contribution of the agricultural sector to employment remains the highest, at 42.7 per cent, while it was 45.1 per cent in 2013. This is followed by the service sector, with 36.9 per cent; the smallest proportion is contributed by the industrial sector, at 20.5 per cent. There was an increase in the employment in the service sector by 11.1 per cent from 19.8 million to 22.0 million. Demonstrating that education is an important element in employability, the LFPR showed a rising trend for those with primary, secondary, and tertiary education in 201516. The group with tertiary education showed the highest LFPR of 77.5 per cent, primary education 65.7 per cent, no education 59.3 per cent, and secondary education 52.1 per cent. In terms of occupation, skilled agricultural workers accounted for the largest share of the total employed population at 32.8 per cent. Around 17.4 per cent were employed in elementary occupations, 15.6 per cent in services and sales, followed by 16.2 per cent in craft and related trades. Of the 14.4 per cent working in the manufacturing sector, the highest share (52.0 per cent) was in the readymade garments (RMG) sector, while 23.7 per cent was engaged in the textile sector. One-third (32.5 per cent) of the employed lack formal education. More than 15.4 million employed workers (25.9 per cent) have completed primary education, while more than 17.9 million (30.1 per cent) have completed secondary education. A total of 15 per cent per cent of employment was in the unpaid/contributing family helper category, with 8.6 million people, as compared to 10.6 million in 2013. In addition, this category was dominated by females, while males were at 22.5 per cent. The female unemployment rate went down to 6.8 per cent in 201516 (from 7.3 per cent in 2013), while the male unemployment rate remained the same at 3 per cent. The majority of unemployed people lived in urban areas. However, the unemployment rate in urban areas (4.4 per cent) was higher than in rural areas (4.1 per cent) in 201516. The unemployment rate was the highest among the population aged 2024 years, at around 10.4 per cent overall. The unemployment rate of females in the 2024 age group was higher (12.8 per cent) than that of males (9.1 per cent).