Islamabad: A recent analysis by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics has raised questions about the role of Pakistan’s education system in shaping employment trends, showing a clear preference for salaried jobs over entrepreneurship. According to Gilani Research Foundation, the study, which examines data from the Pakistan Labour Force Survey 2024-25, highlights a distinct correlation between education levels and employment types.

The analysis reveals that among employed Pakistanis with no formal education, 36% are salaried employees, while 35% are self-employed. However, as educational attainment increases, a significant shift occurs, with 67% of those with higher education opting for salaried positions, and only 25% remaining self-employed. The study further notes a decrease in the proportion of unpaid family helpers, dropping from 29% among those with no education to 7% among higher-educated individuals.

This trend underscores a pattern where the education system channels students towards formal salaried positions, potentially limiting their employment aspirations. As universities produce graduates at a rate exceeding the creation of formal jobs, the competition for these positions intensifies. Consequently, fewer graduates pursue independent economic activities, despite the fact that not all self-employed individuals are entrepreneurs, nor is salaried employment considered undesirable.

The analysis suggests that Pakistan’s education system should evolve to equip graduates with skills necessary for entrepreneurship, such as risk management and market identification. The study emphasizes the need for education to present self-employment as a viable and respectable career option, rather than focusing solely on preparing students for salaried employment. The data for this analysis was sourced from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Labour Force Survey 2024-25 and includes a comparative perspective using India’s Periodic Labour Force Survey 2024.