Employment Exchange to be launched by December: Minister Ariful

The government will launch an ‘Employment Exchange’ by December to connect job seekers with employers and develop a skilled workforce based on market demand, Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said today (4 October).

“A decision has been made to launch the Employment Exchange this year, and we will create a database using both online and offline methods,” he said at a press briefing at the Secretariat.

The initiative will begin in Dhaka before expanding to the divisional and district levels. The government will assess industry workforce needs and identify job seekers through job and career fairs at colleges and universities.

The minister expressed optimism about organising these job fairs within the current year.

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said the BNP had pledged an Employment Exchange in its election manifesto. He said discussions over the past six months with industry, academia, NGOs, government agencies and development partners helped shape the initiative.

The exchange will facilitate the coordination of labour-market supply and demand by compiling information on employable young individuals, which will encompass their skills and qualifications, as well as gathering workforce requirements from various industries, businesses, and institutions.

“We need to know what employable youth power we have—specifically, the number of young men and women in the job market seeking employment, and details regarding their skills and qualifications,” Mahdi said.

The government is also developing a platform to map the local employment ecosystem, including industries, businesses and firms and the professional skills they require. Regular career fairs will be held nationwide, including at the district level, to strengthen industry-academia links.

Job seekers will receive support with CV writing, interview preparation and skills development and be connected with relevant government agencies and ministries based on their needs.

“Overall, our Employment Exchange will function as an employment-orientated ecosystem,” Mahdi said.

Individuals aspiring to work overseas will be linked with appropriate technical training centres or vocational education programmes that align with their career aspirations and requirements.

Asked whether registered unemployed people would receive allowances, Mahdi said the immediate priority was to develop a skilled workforce. Financial support would be considered later based on available government resources.

“Our initial effort is to transform our youth into a skilled workforce. Financial resources are involved here, and we will consider this in the days ahead,” he said.