Bangladesh opens doors to global jobs with first-ever atB jobs fair

For the first time in Bangladesh, a global job fair will be held, offering unprecedented employment opportunities for the country’s youth. The event is scheduled for August 22 at the Bashundhara International Convention City in Dhaka and is being organized by the online job searching platform atB Jobs.

Nearly 40 Japanese and multinational companies will participate in the day-long fair, conducting direct interviews with job seekers and facilitating recruitment. Notably, several companies involved in Japan’s ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ program will take part, providing a direct pathway for skilled workers to be employed in Japan. In addition, multinational corporations from the Asia-Pacific region seeking qualified Bangladeshi professionals will also be present.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday, atB Jobs’ Chief Operating Officer Rei Takahashi highlighted the significance of the event. “This fair will not only open doors to job opportunities for Bangladesh’s youth but also contribute significantly to the country’s economy through foreign remittances. Direct engagement with Japanese and international companies will create new opportunities for job seekers,” he said.

Bangladesh is currently the world’s seventh-largest labor-exporting country, with around 13 million expatriates working globally, according to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare. In 2024 alone, over 1.1 million workers have gone abroad. Bangladesh Bank reports that remittances total nearly $24 billion, accounting for approximately 6.5% of the national GDP. The global job fair aims to boost this figure further by connecting skilled workers with employers in Japan and other developed countries.

Japan is facing a critical labor shortage, with government estimates projecting a need for 7.9 million foreign workers by 2030. Demand is particularly high in healthcare, caregiving, construction, IT, and manufacturing sectors.

Meanwhile, youth unemployment in Bangladesh stands at around 11%, one of the highest rates in South Asia. Each year, over two million young people enter the labor market, but adequate employment opportunities remain limited.

The press conference was attended by Lieutenant General (Retd.) Abul Hossain, Md. Safiuddin (CFO of Kawai), Mohammad Hemayet Hossain, and the Executive Director of RISDA Bangladesh. They described the event as a groundbreaking initiative that will highlight Bangladesh’s job market on a global stage and expressed optimism about the positive economic impact this fair could bring.

Interest among Bangladesh’s young job seekers has already surged ahead of the event, with organizers hopeful that the fair will open new doors for skilled worker exports and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.