Women in Bangladesh still face many economic challenges. According to a recent report*, Bangladeshi women are less likely than men to participate in the labor force (42.5% vs. 81.3%), and women in urban settings face higher unemployment rates than those in rural areas. The wage gap between men and women remains in favor of men who, on average, earn 35.8% more per hour than women do. Women were also disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath, often being the first to lose their jobs, increasing their unemployment rate.

These portraits aim to expand the visibility of women’s contribution in the workforce, beyond their work at home.

*based on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES), 2022.