Dhaka, March 17 -- Nearly half of the young people who entered Bangladesh's labour market over the past ten years failed to secure employment, with women facing the steepest barriers, according to the World Bank.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the World Bank's South Asia Regions Vice President Johannes Zutt noted that while 14 million young people joined the labour market in the last decade, the economy generated only 8.7 million positions.

"Nearly half of the eligible youth remained unemployed, with young women facing the most significant hurdles in accessing the job market," Zutt said.

The disparity highlights a significant "jobs gap" that Zutt suggests requires urgent attention through macroeconomic and financial sector reforms...