As Bangladesh joins the global community in observing World Youth Skills Day 2025, the nation is reminded of a critical truth: the future of a country lies in the strength, skills, and resilience of its youth. With over half of its population under the age of 30, Bangladesh has a unique opportunity—and an urgent responsibility—to transform this vast demographic into a skilled and empowered workforce.
In a message on this day Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus passionately urged all to provide young people with the entrepreneurial and technical skills they need for the 21st century work place. This year’s theme — “Youth Empowerment in the Age of AI and Digital Skills” — says it all about what is to come. Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and digital platforms are rapidly transforming our work, our learning and our lives. For Bangladesh to keep pace and be inclusive, its young people need to be armed with the skills for the new digital age.
It is a big challenge, but it is also a big opportunity. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is more than just a technological shift, however, it is a complete reconfiguration of government, industry and society. Analog jobs are morphing into digital jobs that require new skills. If the youths are not prepared for such a transformation, they risk being left behind at both the national and the international levels of the labour market.
Dr Yunus’s vision is timely and transformative: A country in
which every young person will have the power of technology
a great equaliser to unlock their potential, participate fully
in the economy and lead a life of dignity
Thankfully, the country’s government —that’s taking shape after the nation’s democratic spring in July —has vowed to enlist its youth population as central players in the country’s anticipated growth. Several programs have emerged to offer the training required by the market demand, to promote entrepreneurship and to generate employment locally and abroad. Those attempts recognise more and more that funding youths skills is not a matter of social policy alone—it is strategic economic planning.
Creating this talent pool is not easy, and institutions like the National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) are partnering with the government, service providers and the industry to build a strong, inclusive and future-ready skills ecosystem. This partnership needs to be further strengthened and expanded, to reach every urban, rural and marginalised community. A priority will be to overcome inequalities in the digital world, especially for women, lower-income groups and indigenous groups.
In addition to jobs, young people need to be enabled to be entrepreneurs and innovators. Digital entrepreneurship in the globalising world of today can be a potent mean for poverty alleviation and inclusive growth. Backing this are stronger regulations for startup financing, top tiered mentorship programs and innovation hubs in Bangladesh.
Dr Yunus’s vision is timely and transformative: A country in which every young person will have the power of technology a great equaliser to unlock their potential, participate fully in the economy and lead a life of dignity. To make this vision a reality, Bangladesh needs to further integrate education with labour market needs, to be open to digital technology development and to take care that no young person is being left behind.
