Bhutan Jobs, the event organiser, is the first ever in-country employment agent

Employment: At the 12th National Job Fair in Thimphu yesterday, the Labour Minister Ngeema Sangay Tshempo, said that overall unemployment rate in the country had decreased from 2.9 percent in 2013 to 2.6 percent in 2014.

Speaking to over 3000 jobseekers at the Youth Development Fund’s multi-purpose hall, the minister said that the youth unemployment has also dropped from 9.6 percent in 2013 to 9.4 percent in 2014.

Sonam Dema, communication officer with Bhutan Jobs, said that the exhibitors not only presented the available job opportunities, but also displayed the vacancies that could open in the future.

Sonam Dema said that the mismatch between the jobseekers and available jobs was on the rise. “Most of the jobseekers don’t want to take up blue-collar jobs that are plenty in the market at the moment,” she said.

Ugyen Zangmo, a Sherubtse graduate, said that she had been looking for jobs for the last two years. “I’ve applied for all the vacancies that were announced so far. I never get shortlisted for any of them,” she said.

Employers seek jobseekers with experience, qualification besides. “How can we ever get any experience if we are given no opportunity to learn?” she asked.

Labour minster said that, in order to harness the full potential of youth, young people need to change their attitude towards blue-collar jobs and, at the same time, employers need to be reasonable, when they are looking for experience, especially from young graduates.

Chimi Dema, chief executive officer of Bhutan Jobs, said the number of jobseekers would only increase.  Job fairs should benefit jobseekers and employers alike. “Do they need experienced individuals for a short period of time, or are they willing to take in new individuals, groom them, and work with them for a longer period of time?” she asked.   

Thinley, a graduate with electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India, said that the huge crowd gathered at the hall encouraged her. “The huge number of jobseekers competing for the limited vacancies will help ensure the quality of the work each individual can deliver,” she said. “We should take this positively and strive to give our best and not just seek job for the sake of getting employed.”

The labour ministry outsourced the job fair this year to Bhutan Jobs, which is the first ever in-country employment agent.

The first day of the fair saw 32 different exhibitors from private and corporate sectors showcase various employment opportunities.  The first job fair was organised in 2003 by the then Department of Employment and Labour.

The two-day job fair ends today.

By Younten Tshedup