Cover Story / The IT job market conundrum: underemployed or underskilled?

There are no jobs in this country — a common frustration among IT graduates in Bangladesh. According to a report by The Daily Star, graduate unemployment stands at 13.5 percent, roughly three times the national average. However, the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) reports that nearly 40 percent of IT sector positions remain vacant, as employers claim the talent pool is insufficient.

Structural Mismatch in the Job Market

Bangladesh faces not just a job crisis but a structural mismatch: universities produce graduates who often don’t meet industry standards, while companies struggle to recognize or cultivate capable talent. The issue begins in the classroom. Most computer science and engineering (CSE) curricula in Bangladesh emphasize theoretical subjects like computation theory, digital logic design, and algorithms, but overlook practical, industry-relevant skills.

Muhtasim Jawad, a software engineering student at Dhaka University (DU), explains: “I juggle academic courses and online certifications just to stay competitive. The curriculum is outdated, and courses like chemical reactions or Bangladesh history don’t align with what employers need. Companies prioritize skills over CGPA, but what we study in class doesn’t match industry demands.”

Rafsan Rahman Rafi, a CSE student at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), adds: “Technology evolves rapidly, but our curriculum is stagnant. Even if universities wanted to update courses, they lack teachers and resources. For example, cybersecurity is in high demand, but we have no instructors to teach it.”

Private universities face similar challenges. Nasif Ahsan, a second-year CSE student at North South University (NSU), notes: “The curriculum is CGPA-focused, but employers value real-world projects. Our academic projects are poorly graded and hold little weight in the job market.”

Skills Gap and Industry Expectations

Md Mubir M Chowdhury, founder of Sokrio Technologies Limited and adjunct faculty member at multiple universities, highlights a critical gap: “The biggest challenge isn’t technical knowledge but the ability to apply it in real-world scenarios. Many graduates can recite prepared answers but struggle with adaptability, judgment, and independent problem-solving.”

The rise of AI has further complicated hiring. Chowdhury explains: “AI-generated outputs blur the line between genuine understanding and superficial competence. Strong fundamentals and the ability to defend one’s work are now more important than ever.” He cites instances where promising hires failed to perform, forcing companies to revise their hiring processes.

Experience Paradox and Hiring Barriers

A peer-reviewed study, The Gap Between the Required Entry-Level Job Experience and the Opportunity for the Freshers in Bangladesh, found that 80 percent of surveyed graduates identified the demand for 2–3 years of experience as the primary barrier to employment. Employers, however, face their own challenges: training fresh graduates can take 6–12 months before they contribute meaningfully, leading companies to prioritize experienced hires as a safer bet.

Mahidul, a developer at a reputed company, recalls his job search: “I applied to 21 companies; 18 rejected me outright for lack of experience. How are freshers supposed to gain experience if no one hires them? It felt like a system designed to fail us.”

India’s IT sector addressed this issue through large-scale campus recruitment and training programs, creating a direct pipeline from education to employment. Bangladesh could adopt a similar model, given its talent pool — the country ranks second globally for freelancers, most of whom work in IT. However, these freelancers often serve foreign clients, as local opportunities are less lucrative.

Brain Drain and Economic Realities

Approximately 55 percent of young Bangladeshis aged 18–35 express a desire to emigrate, with IT professionals leaving at an accelerating rate. Entry-level software developers in Bangladesh earn BDT 15,000–35,000 (USD 136–318) per month, compared to USD 360–540 in India and USD 250–560 in Sri Lanka, according to salary data from Glassdoor, PayScale, and GeeksForGeeks.

Mahidul describes his early career: “The salary was low, and I had to learn on the job without any training. Many colleagues couldn’t cope and left. Why should graduates bear the burden of learning skills their education should have provided?”

Bridging the Gap

Chowdhury emphasizes shared responsibility: “No single party is to blame. Universities must prioritize practical application and problem-solving, while students must go beyond degrees. Collaboration between academia and industry — through internships, guest lectures, and real-world projects — can improve graduate readiness.”

Without systemic changes, the cycle of unemployment, underemployment, and brain drain will persist, leaving Bangladesh’s IT sector struggling to compete globally.