Youths prefer working abroad and govt jobs

About 20 percent youths of the country, mostly male aged between 15 and 35, are interested to go abroad for a better living and career opportunity, says a non-government survey report.

Of the rest, the majority -- around 57 percent female and 42 percent male -- prefers to get government jobs thinking of better salaries, facilities and job security, the survey report said.

BRAC in association with BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) and BRAC University conducted the survey on 4,200 youths in 30 upazilas and towns across the country.

The survey report titled “Youth Survey 2018” were unveiled at a seminar held at a hotel in Dhaka today.

According to the report, about one-third of the youths who want to go abroad have already started to take preparations although a large number of them does not have enough education and English skills.

Those who have less education and are comparatively poor, like to go to the countries in Middle East and Asian region, while the others prefer the USA, Australia and European countries, said the survey.

The eagerness of going abroad is comparatively higher among the younger people. For instance, 25 percent of the surveyed -- aged between 15 and 19 -- likes to work abroad, it added.

The survey also found that only one-fifth of the youths believe that their education would help them to get a job. It means, the youths do not trust the quality and relevance of the education they are receiving, it said.

Asked about the high tendency of going abroad, the researchers told the newspaper that the youths consider working abroad as a better choice which can help them to ensure a better future.

“The youths think that doing something better in the country is very difficult. Besides, competition of getting a job is very high here,” said Anindita Bhattacharjee, one of the researchers.

She termed the tendency of going abroad and getting government jobs “not healthy” for the country.

“A lack of innovation will be created among the youths if they remain confined to these two. And the country will not get new entrepreneurs,” said Anindita, a senior research associate of BIGD.

Speaking as the chief guest, Zahid Ahsan Russel, state minister for youth and sports, said the government has already taken several initiatives to train up the youths and create work opportunities for them.

Jafar Uddin, secretary in charge of the ministry; Asif Saleh, acting executive director of BRAC; Imran Matin, executive director of BIDG; Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon, and singer Elita Karim, also editor of Arts and Entertainment of The Daily Star spoke at the event.