The Top Skills in Bangladesh for Employability

Find out the top skills employers in Bangladesh are looking for. We take a look at some of the most in-demand hard and soft skills and how you can improve yours.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit job markets and economies around the world, and Bangladesh is no exception. However, there is hope that as the pandemic shrinks and economies reopen, job markets will recover. With that in mind, it’s important to have the right skills and knowledge to find work and build your career. We take a look at the top skills in Bangladesh for employability. 

As well as looking at the hard and soft skills that employers are looking for right now, we also explore some of the courses and resources you can use to improve your own skill set. 

What skills are employers in Bangladesh looking for?

Before the pandemic, the job market in Bangladesh was thriving. With an annual economic growth of 7.9% in 2018 (the highest in Asia and the Pacific), some job sites saw 60,000 new jobs posted. However, the start of the pandemic saw a sharp decline in job postings, falling 87% in April 2020. Many of these are in the garment industry. 

However, there are signs of recovery for the labour market, meaning employers will be looking for skilled individuals, now and in the future. A 2018 report outlined some of the hard and soft skills that employers of the future will look for. By looking at this report, as well as data on in-demand and high-paying jobs, we’ve picked out some of the top hard and soft skills in Bangladesh at the moment. 

Hard skills

First, let’s explore some of the hard skills that employers in Bangladesh are looking for. These are the job-specific abilities that an individual needs to succeed in a particular role. 

Data analysis 

Fields such as big data and data analytics are becoming increasingly important in just about every country. Across many industries, there is a need for those with the professional skills to collect, gather, and analyse data. 

By improving your data analysis skills, you’ll find possibilities in many different job roles. Get started with the basics of big data analytics or develop a more in-depth understanding of data analytics for business. With the right data skills, you’re sure to stand out from the crowd. 

Programming 

Software developers are among the highest-paid professionals in Bangladesh. One of the key skills needed for this kind of role is programming. Whether as a front-end, back-end, or full-stack developer, you’ll need a working knowledge of several programming languages. 

Why not get started with the programming essentials with Python or take a look at our Computer Programming for Everyone course.  Both can help you develop some of the core programming skills. 

Customer service 

Another one of the top skills in Bangladesh is that of customer service. There are many different hard and soft skills combined in this one, but you can improve on many of these by taking a customer service course. You’ll find that there are many opportunities available that make use of these skills. 

One of the useful skills to learn is the principles of service management. For an in-depth look, you can explore our Customer Experience Design for Customer Success ExpertTrack.  

IT skills 

Many of the reports looking at the skills gap in Bangladesh mention that many people lack some essential IT skills. As such, employers are looking for those who can show a range of IT and digital skills. 

You can get started with our Digital Skills for Work and Life course or explore our course on embracing digital technology. 

Construction

With the projected increase in development and infrastructure in Bangladesh, the construction industry is expected to thrive over the coming years. As such, there will be a high demand for skilled workers across many different roles in the sector. Having the right skills and knowledge could make it easier to find work for years to come. 

With our Step into Construction course, you can explore some of the roles and opportunities in the sector. You could also gain an introduction to construction project management. 

Engineering

There is a current shortage of engineers in Bangladesh, meaning that many roles are filled by overseas workers. As such, developing the right engineering skills could make you a sought-after professional in the job market. 

Get started with a taster of an electrical engineering degree or learn how engineers write technical reports with one of our free courses. 

Digital marketing 

If you’re looking for a varied and rewarding career, you can’t go far wrong with digital marketing. As more companies and industries go digital, there will be plenty of job opportunities available. What’s more, you can learn a diverse range of to help you stand out. 

Our free two-week course on digital marketing can help you learn the basics of some of the strategies used, while our ExpertTrack on creative marketing gives a more detailed look.  

Soft skills

Employers in Bangladesh look for many different qualities in candidates. Besides job-specific knowledge, they also want to find people who have the soft skills to be good employees. These interpersonal and transferable professional skills are essential for finding a job in Bangladesh. 

Leadership 

Skills in leadership can help workers across all industries progress through their career. Leaders can bring out the best in others, help to organise projects, and help teams reach their goals. Those who can demonstrate such skills are highly sought-after. 

We have several opportunities for you to work on your own leadership skills. Our What is Leadership? course is an ideal place to get started, while our ExpertTrack on leading people and teams gives a detailed look at the subject. 

Communication

Effective communication skills are important around the world. No matter where you live, or what language you speak, the ability to clearly and concisely convey information to others is essential. It’s also one of the top soft skills in Bangladesh. 

With one of our free courses, you can work on your communication and interpersonal skills at work. If you’re planning on working overseas, you can also work on your intercultural communication skills.  

Problem-solving 

According to the World Bank report we mentioned earlier, problem-solving skills are some of the essentials ones that employers look for, but they’re in short supply in Bangladesh. As such, those who do possess these skills will find themselves in high demand. 

Problem-solving skills are often linked to creativity, and our course on using creative problem solving is a useful one to start with. You can also learn how the skill is tied to decision-making in another of our free online courses. 

Time management

Last on our list of the top skills in Bangladesh for employability is time management – a skill that’s useful in both professional and personal settings. It’s an ability that’s closely tied to organisation, project management, and leadership. 

You can work on your time management and other professional skills with our Work Ready Skills course. If you’re interested in delivering projects on time, we also have a course on the principles, practices and systems of project management. 

Final thoughts 

As you can see, employers in Bangladesh look for a diverse range of hard and soft skills. So, no matter what stage of your career you’re at, it can be beneficial to develop your expertise in many of these areas. With the courses and ExpertTracks we’ve outlined throughout this article, you can work on some of the top skills in Bangladesh for employability.