Bridging the divide: addressing the skills gap in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG)

Abstract

Bangladesh’s knitwear sub-sector within the ready-made garment (RMG) industry has expanded rapidly; however, factories continue to experience persistent mismatches between job requirements and the available workforce skills. Using a structured survey and focused discussions with local and expatriate mid- and senior-level managers in knitwear factories, this study examines managers’ educational backgrounds, evaluates the adequacy of their qualifications, and identifies key training needs. The findings reveal that graduates with general and commerce backgrounds dominate managerial positions, while technically trained professionals remain underrepresented at senior levels. Managers consistently identify communication, leadership, time management, industrial rules and regulations, occupational health and safety, and quality management as essential competencies, alongside core technical skills. The evidence suggests a two-pronged strategy: targeted upskilling in supervisory, communication, and compliance-related skills, together with the development of technical and information technology (IT) competencies among mid-level managers. The study concludes with practical recommendations for factory human resource (HR) units, industry associations, and skills development programs to better align training initiatives with evolving buyer expectations and increasing process automation.