Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said Bangladesh is facing a severe employment crisis, with up to 500,000 to 600,000 applications being submitted for a single job vacancy.

Speaking as the chief guest at a reception for newly admitted students at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka on Sunday, the minister said the country has nearly 40 million educated unemployed people, while employment opportunities remain insufficient to absorb the growing workforce.

“Even office assistant positions now attract hundreds of thousands of applications. The intense competition in the job market has become a major challenge for students,” he said, adding that unemployment cannot be eliminated overnight.

To address the issue, Fakhrul said the government is promoting a creative economy to expand employment opportunities for blacksmiths, potters, weavers, artists, athletes and other professionals. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve technical skills and vocational training to help young people secure jobs overseas.

The minister said the government has already declared Bangladesh’s northern and southern regions as agricultural hubs to boost economic activity and reduce employment crisis.