As Bangladesh marks International Workers’ Day, a striking contradiction persists: despite major gains in female education, millions of educated women remain outside the workforce, exposing a growing structural challenge for the country’s economy.
Bangladesh has achieved near gender parity in primary and secondary education and made notable progress in tertiary enrollment.
Yet, this success has not translated into equivalent gains in employment.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), female labour force participation stands at around 36–38%, compared to more than 80% for men.
Even among those employed, disparities are pronounced.
Nearly 85% of working women are concentrated in the informal sector, where jobs are often low-paid, insecure and lack legal protection -- keeping most women outside formal economic structures that offer higher productivity, benefits and career advancement.
Women’s employment remains heavily concentrated in a limited number of sectors.
The ready-made garments (RMG) industry employs millions of women, accounting for roughly 60% of its workforce.
In rural areas, many women contribute as unpaid or underpaid agricultural labourers.
Women are also prominent in healthcare, caregiving, and education, as well as in NGOs and small-scale enterprises.
However, they remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields, senior management, financial services and technology-driven industries, reflecting persistent structural and cultural barriers.
Behind these figures are daily struggles.
“I have worked in the factory for a decade. My income sustains my family, but safety is always a concern,” said Rubina Akter, a garment worker in Savar.
“We do the same work as men in the fields, but we earn less,” said Momota Rani, an agricultural worker from Kurigram.
Sabina Yasmin, a nurse in Dhaka, described the strain of balancing work and family: “Shift duties make it extremely difficult to manage both.”
For educated women, the barriers take a different form. “I completed my degree with high hopes, but job opportunities are limited. Employers often question personal choices rather than professional skills,” said engineering graduate Lamia Khan.
Experts say these outcomes are driven not by individual choice but by systemic constraints.
“Nearly 85% of women are in the informal sector, where there is virtually no institutional support,” said Nazma Yesmin, director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS).
“The absence of childcare facilities is a critical factor pushing women out of the workforce.”
Limited access to affordable childcare remains a major obstacle. While some government offices, banks and international organisations offer daycare, coverage is minimal, and in many industrial establishments facilities exist only on paper.
Urban mobility also poses a challenge.
Overcrowded and often unsafe public transport discourages women -- especially those with children -- from continuing employment.
Many are forced to make difficult choices between work and family responsibilities.
“Even at senior levels, balancing professional responsibilities with family expectations is extremely challenging,” said a senior female secretary, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Without systemic support, many women step back despite their qualifications.”
The economic implications are significant. According to World Bank and international labour studies, increasing female workforce participation could substantially boost Bangladesh’s GDP and productivity, making it a critical factor for sustaining growth as the country moves toward upper-middle-income status.
Experts say bridging the gap will require structural reforms, including expanding childcare services, ensuring workplace safety, enforcing anti-harassment laws, promoting flexible work arrangements, and aligning education with market demands -- particularly in STEM fields.
Until women can participate fully and equally in the labour market, Bangladesh’s development gains will remain incomplete.
