Bangladesh’s labour force shrank by 17 lakh in 2024, marking the first contraction since 2010, with women accounting for most of the decline, according to the BBS Labour Force Survey 2024.
The total labour force fell to 7.17 crore from 7.34 crore in 2023. Male participation remained almost unchanged at 4.8 crore, while female participation dropped from 2.53 crore to 2.37 crore.
Experts say the fall reflects limited job creation, shrinking opportunities in manufacturing, automation in the garment sector, lack of supportive infrastructure like childcare, and persistent social barriers. Women’s share in the garment workforce has already fallen to around 65% from over 80%.
Economists note that while rural women often enter the labour force temporarily, especially in agriculture, sustained participation in urban, formal, and skill-based jobs remains weak.
They stress the need for policies that expand opportunities in modern service sectors such as education, healthcare, finance, and hospitality, alongside targeted support for female entrepreneurs in rural areas.
The concern, experts conclude, is not just the drop in participation but also the poor quality of women’s employment, which is failing to keep pace with the economy’s structural transformation.
