Employment, skills and economic inclusion in Cox’s Bazar: An analysis of labour market dynamics and trends

The findings point to a labour market that appears stable on the surface, with low unemployment and participation rates close to national averages, but is in fact characterized by severe underemployment (nearly 59% of the employed population), high informality, and weak contractual protections, alongside deep-rooted gender disparities, a near-total absence of vocational training, and a significant skills mismatch with emerging growth sectors such as tourism, services, and the humanitarian economy. The report also highlights the acute vulnerabilities facing youth (with a 41.5% NEET rate), persons with disabilities, and women, particularly those affected by early marriage, as well as the district's heavy and highly gendered reliance on outward international labour migration as a coping strategy in the absence of stable local employment.

We hope these findings offer a robust evidence base to inform UNCT programming and policy dialogue around inclusive, market-aligned interventions that support the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus in Cox's Bazar.