Yangyel Lhaden

The latest Labour Force Survey Quarterly Report has revealed that many individuals without any formal education thrive in the job market while those with higher degrees face major employment challenges.

According to the report, out of 379,023 employed individuals, a striking 35.23 percent have no formal education, making this group the largest segment of the workforce. This trend is particularly evident in rural areas, where 44.58 percent of employed individuals lack formal education.

Following those without formal education, individuals with higher secondary education make up 13.67 percent of the workforce, while those with primary education account for 13.64 percent.

In stark contrast, only 7.37 percent of the employed population holds a bachelor’s degree, and just two percent possess a master’s degree or higher.

The employment landscape is further complicated by the urban-rural divide.

Urban areas exhibit higher employment rates for those with middle secondary education and above. For instance, 22.93 percent of individuals with higher secondary education find jobs in urban settings, compared to only 9.15 percent in rural regions.

Conversely, the reliance on unskilled labour  is more pronounced in rural areas, where 44.58 percent of the workforce lacks formal education.

Gender disparities add another layer to the complex employment scenario. The workforce is predominantly male, particularly at higher education levels, with 8.36 percent of employed men holding a bachelor’s degree compared to 5.81 percent of women.

Women face significant barriers to both education and employment. Around 44.04 percent of employed women have no formal education, compared to 29.68 percent of men.

The unemployment rate in Bhutan for the third quarter of 2024 stands at 3.1 percent, with 12,090 individuals unemployed.

According to the survey, 5,648 individuals with higher secondary education and 2,246 with bachelor’s degrees are unemployed, representing the highest unemployment rates.

Unemployment decreases as education levels drop, with 471 unemployed individuals holding vocational qualifications—certificate and diploma.The gender gap is significant with 11.3 percent of females unemployed compared to 1.9 percent of males.

Overall, the unemployment rate is 2.4 percent for males and 4.2 percent for females. Women with bachelor’s degrees experience a much higher unemployment rate of 13.2 percent compared to 4.7 percent for men. Similarly, 10.3 percent of women with master’s degrees are unemployed, while no men with master’s degrees are currently jobless.