Ho Chi Minh City’s labor market in the first Quarter of 2026 exhibits a significant imbalance: while nearly 40% of job seekers are middle-aged (36-49), employers overwhelmingly prefer younger individuals aged 18 to 35. This paradox is highlighted in the Q1 labor market report from the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center, under the Department of Home Affairs. The report indicates a robust demand for 82,700 positions against a supply of 52,600 job seekers, showing overall "demand exceeding supply." However, this distribution is uneven across age groups, qualifications, and professions.

The 36-49 age group constitutes the largest segment of job seekers, with nearly 21,000 individuals, accounting for close to 40% of the total supply. This figure surpasses the 25-35 age group, which makes up almost 38%.

Workers process unemployment benefits at the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center. Photo: Thanh Tung

Conversely, employer demand specifically for positions targeting the 36-49 age bracket is minimal, at just 0,32%. Businesses predominantly seek younger workers aged 18-35, who are preferred for over 41% of available roles.

Nguyen Van Hanh Thuc, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center, explained the reasons behind this disparity. Middle-aged job seekers, often with accumulated experience, frequently look to change jobs for better income or improved working conditions. However, the market segment with the most significant labor shortage is general labor, accounting for over 33% or more than 27,600 positions. Employers in these sectors often do not prioritize high qualifications, with 82% of vacancies not requiring a degree or only a high school diploma or lower. This demand primarily originates from industrial parks and export processing zones, which favor younger workers who are perceived as more adaptable to production environments.

This supply-demand imbalance creates difficulties for many middle-aged workers, despite their experience. Many find themselves less suited to new market demands, especially in manufacturing and technical sectors that require specific practical skills and the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies.

Nevertheless, Thuc noted that this situation is not entirely concerning. For experienced and qualified workers, job opportunities often arise through personal networks or specialized recruitment channels. Furthermore, the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center observed that over 58% of positions, approximately 48,000 jobs, do not specify age limits, thereby offering prospects for middle-aged individuals.

Certain sectors, including manufacturing, mechanics, maintenance, and machine operation, continue to face shortages of skilled labor, making them suitable for experienced workers. The sales and service industries also have the capacity to integrate general laborers through short-term training programs.

Looking ahead to Q2, recruitment demand is projected to range from 60,000 to 75,000 positions as businesses intensify production. However, the supply of labor might slightly decrease, as workers tend to prioritize stability following the volatile period earlier in the year.

Le Tuyet