The “skills problem,” a term popularized in the gaming world as a derogatory term for those who struggle with challenging levels of gaming, has been recognized by Bangladeshi youth as an obstacle to demonstrating excellence in professional life . It simply refers to the gap between a person’s technical skills, knowledge, tool skills, and behavioral skills as the world demands ever-increasing efficiency.

Since July, young Bangladeshi professionals have reported feeling insecure in their jobs and dissatisfied with their current work environment. A generally perplexed generation, eager to express their professional qualities, needs to know how to identify the necessary skills.

But in which areas do Bangladeshi students and young professionals suffer most from skills challenges?

Too many developers, too little development

Data shows that around 90% of tech startups in Bangladesh fail within 2-5 years. This high failure rate hinders the industry’s global growth potential and deprives the nation of much-needed technological innovations in key sectors. The 10% of startups that survive face many challenges, including difficulty finding the right tech talent in the country to grow their business.

In comparison, startup failure rates within 2-5 years are lower in other Asian countries: around 70% in Singapore, 60% in Malaysia, 40% in Indonesia, and 49% in Sri Lanka. So, where are we stuck and how can we improve?

Experts suggest that key industries in Bangladesh, such as agri-tech, fintech, ed-tech and food-tech, need to foster a culture of constructive criticism, actionable feedback and precise skill placement.

Too many mentors, too little (quality) mentoring for entrepreneurs

Half of Bangladesh’s population is currently in their twenties. For optimists, this represents an opportunity. For realists, what can go wrong will go wrong if the importance of mentoring and guidance as infrastructure is not taken seriously. Approaching mentoring with a sense of responsibility to the ecosystem can restore the long-lost glory of founders who build on mentors’ ideas.

Specialized mentoring for startups at different stages, such as pre-seed, seed, growth, and Series A, can help founders contextualize their challenges. There is also a need to bring together mentors for specialized sectors like agriculture, 3D technology, health technology and food technology. After all, why would an edtech founder go to the same mentor as their healthtech counterpart? Because most of the time, they don’t know who else to talk to or where to find the one they need to talk to.

The Bangladeshi startup ecosystem has only a handful of reliable local accelerators that support their portfolio companies until they secure significant funding. However, founders now need skills to monetize their products and expand their markets to maintain motivation when funding runs out.

The ecosystem requires impactful accelerators with intentional mentors specialized in providing go-to-market strategies and support structures. These will not only motivate founders to innovate but also help them find good product-market fit.

Too many initiatives, too little sustainability

The climate crisis has sparked a wave of initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability, but many of these efforts lack the depth and continuity needed to create lasting change. About 63% of students in private universities are familiar with environmental sustainability in Bangladesh, which indicates that students are aware of environmental issues. This gap between theory and practice constitutes a significant obstacle to the development of a generation truly focused on sustainable development.

Support for high-impact projects and sustainable businesses is also essential. To make a real impact, institutions must provide the infrastructure to support initiatives that go beyond volunteer work and create lasting economic and environmental benefits. This means providing students and professionals with resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to build businesses that can tackle climate issues at scale.

With the ongoing reform and refurbishment of the state’s political structure, student advocacy has proven useful in developing a recovery strategy. Ensuring their participation, offering guided emotional and psychosocial support as well as rebuilding a strong education and skills program dedicated to building a resourceful population are some of the key responsibilities of universities offering especially undergraduate degrees.

Too many rewards, too little impact

Clearly, there is still a mismatch between the skills students learn and the demands of employers, as World Bank research highlights. Universities, which should play a key role in closing this gap, often fail to guide students toward careers that align with their values.

It is essential to strengthen career guidance, including options in public service, non-profit organizations and social entrepreneurship. Universities should help students explore careers based on ethics and values, not just financial ones, and build partnerships with like-minded organizations.

By redefining success to focus on impact-driven roles and celebrating alumni who choose non-traditional career paths, universities can inspire students to pursue more meaningful careers domestically.

Ultimately, closing the skills gaps and strengthening the mentoring ecosystem in Bangladesh is essential if we are to unlock the full potential of the country’s youth. The challenge is not just economic policy or university reform, but also cultural change – a challenge that promotes continuous learning, innovation and sustainability.

Only by equipping young professionals with the right tools and guidance, and valuing impact-driven careers, can we ensure a future in which they not only survive, but thrive in an ever-changing global landscape.

Nomrota Sarker is a startup entrepreneur and journalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Tasmin Zareen is an Environmental Studies and Economics student and advocate for climate action and sustainability in Bangladesh.