1 in 4 in Dhaka division unemployed, newspaper hunt prevails

Dhaka division has emerged as the unemployment hotspot of Bangladesh, according to the latest Labour Force Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

By the end of 2024, the country had 26.2 lakh unemployed people, with Dhaka alone accounting for nearly 6,87,000 – by far the highest of any division. 

Chattogram ranked second with 5,84,000 jobless, followed by Rajshahi with 3,57,000. 

The survey also reported 3,31,000 unemployed in Khulna division, 2,16,000 in Sylhet, 2,06,000 in Rangpur, 1,39,000 in Barishal and 10,4,000 in Mymensingh.

How jobseekers search

The report reveals striking insights into how the unemployed are seeking work. 

Over a third (36%) depend on relatives and friends to help them find jobs, while newspapers remain surprisingly popular: around 26% of jobseekers said they still scan print advertisements.

Other approaches include applying directly to organisations (12%), sending résumés through professional networks, and registering with government or private employment centres. 

Smaller groups look for work by visiting offices in person, attending direct interviews, or even trying to set up businesses through loans, land or licences.

A harsh reality

The BBS survey follows the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition of unemployment—those who have actively sought work in the past month but have not had the chance to work at least one paid hour in the previous week.

But the report highlights a sharp contrast with Bangladesh’s reality, where “one hour a week” of paid work is far from enough to make a living.