The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Around 18,600 vacancies were reported in 2025 and 13,161 by September 2026, but questions remain about how many positions were filled, whether salaries meet living costs and why some young Bhutanese are looking abroad for better opportunities
Creating meaningful employment opportunities for young Bhutanese remains one of the government’s key priorities as the country seeks to address youth unemployment, skills mismatch and outward migration. The Macroeconomic Performance and Outlook Report 2026 highlights that Bhutan has an opportunity to benefit from its young working-age population until around 2032. Making the most of this demographic dividend will require the creation of productive jobs, stronger skills development and better access to decent employment opportunities within the country.
According to administrative data compiled from the Employment Service Center, Bhutan Labor Market Information System (BLMIS) and Youth Engagement and Livelihood Program (YELP), around 18,600 job vacancies were reported in 2025, while 13,161 vacancies were recorded up to September 2026. However, the figures represent reported vacancies and do not necessarily reflect newly created jobs. They may also include duplicate listings. As a result, the available data do not provide an accurate picture of the number of new jobs created, Bhutanese employed or positions filled.
Tshewang, 24, said he had completed a month-long barista training course at an institute in Thimphu and would soon be leaving for Dubai to work as a barista. “In our country, employers look for experienced workers, whereas I think skills should also be taken into account,” he said. He expects to earn approximately Nu 70,000 a month in Dubai. In comparison, job vacancies listed on Dzi Seldra indicate that the basic monthly salary for a barista in Bhutan typically ranges from Nu 10,000 to Nu 23,000.
An official from the Ministry of Finance said the private sector accounted for the majority of advertised job vacancies, representing approximately 85.1 percent in 2025 and 93 percent in 2026. Most of the advertised positions were classified as regular employment, accounting for around 74 percent of vacancies in 2025 and 79.7 percent in 2026. However, further information is needed to determine how many of these vacancies have been filled, the salaries offered and whether the jobs provide stable, long-term employment.
The official said a key challenge was ensuring that the skills young people acquire match the needs of employers. The Department of Employment and Entrepreneurship conducts targeted studies with employers and industries and uses the labor market information system to better understand employment needs. However, more comprehensive information is needed to measure the extent of the skills gap and identify areas where training and skills development need to be strengthened.
Prem Kumar Mongar, who currently lives in Thimphu, graduated from Sherubtse College a year ago but has yet to secure a job. He said he had applied for jobs 14 times and attended two interviews but has not received a job offer. “I would accept a salary of Nu 30,000 a month, considering the high cost of house rent and other living expenses in Thimphu,” he said. While looking for employment, Prem is helping his parents run their shop. He said the cost of living in the capital was a major consideration when deciding what salary, he would need to support himself. With limited success in securing a job in Bhutan, he is also considering going abroad in search of better employment opportunities.
His experience reflects the challenges some young graduates face as they enter the job market, where securing employment can take time despite repeated applications and interviews. For graduates living in Thimphu, finding a job that offers a reasonable salary is particularly important given the cost of accommodation and other daily expenses. For some, the prospect of working abroad may become an alternative as they continue to seek stable employment and financial independence.
The official said the government was also supporting employment through programs such as the YELP, which facilitated 3,218 employment opportunities in 2025 and 2,397 in 2026 through direct employment support. While these programs provide opportunities for young people to enter the job market, further tracking is needed to determine how many participants secured lasting employment, how much public expenditure was used to generate these opportunities and how effectively the programs have contributed to reducing youth unemployment.
He said the priority was not simply to increase the number of advertised vacancies but to ensure that more young Bhutanese secured decent, stable and productive jobs with fair wages and opportunities for career development. This would require closer collaboration between the government, private sector, training institutions and young job seekers to align skills development with labor market demand and expand employment opportunities in productive sectors of the economy.
The official also stressed the need to strengthen employment data and tracking systems to measure actual job creation, distinguish between advertised vacancies and positions filled, and assess the long-term outcomes of public employment programs. Such information would help the government evaluate its progress in addressing youth unemployment and ensure that young Bhutanese have better opportunities to contribute to and benefit from the country’s economic growth.
