A seminar on youth employment and labor market trends, held on 18/9 in Hanoi, painted a somber picture of the current employment landscape for young people.

Specifically, the unemployment rate for individuals aged 15-24 is four times the national average. Approximately 1,4 million young people fall into the "three-no" (NEET) category, meaning they are not employed, not in education, and not in training. Furthermore, 58% of young workers are in informal employment, lacking written contracts, social insurance contributions, and paid leave. This means only 41% of employed youth participate in social insurance.

Vocational school students and high school students in Bac Ninh attend an early-year job fair in 3/2026. Photo: Hong Chieu.

Master Nguyen Thi Hoang Nguyen of the Institute of State Organizational Sciences and Labor, Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted that recent graduates, often lacking experience, frequently struggle to find employment. Even securing a first job proves challenging, as initial incomes often fall short of expectations.

These disadvantages often stem from several key issues: disruptions in the transition from education to the labor market, inadequate career information provided during schooling, probationary periods lacking sufficient experience and mentorship, initial jobs often involving short-term contracts and low wages, and a development process marked by insufficient retraining and unclear career paths.

According to Ms. Nguyen, a primary barrier for young job seekers is a lack of both experience and relevant skills. Businesses frequently have high demands for positions, necessitating that young individuals adequately prepare with both specialized and soft skills to present themselves confidently to employers. Educational institutions play a crucial role in connecting students with businesses, leveraging their training reputation. Many schools strategically enhance graduate employment rates by actively collaborating with large corporations, facilitating internships, and integrating training programs while students are still enrolled.

"Young people, once employed, also need to update their skills, stay abreast of trends, and understand their career paths," she advised.

The expert outlined four policy priorities to improve youth employment: creating quality jobs with living wages for new entrants; ensuring a smooth transition from education to employment through early career guidance, workplace vocational training, internships, and quality mentorship. For the "three-no" group, reconnection is vital through proactive employment services, gender and locality-specific support, and opportunities for second-chance learning. Finally, expanding social insurance and benefits for short-term, platform-based, and self-employed work is crucial.

87% of 'three-no' youth lack professional qualifications

The General Statistics Office reported that in QII/2026, over 1,4 million youth aged 15-24 across the country were in the "three-no" situation. Of this group, 69% reside in rural areas, and over 54% are female.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Acting Head of the Population and Labor Statistics Department, stated that over 50% of this group had not graduated high school, and 32% were actively seeking and ready for employment. Professionally, nearly 13% possessed primary-level qualifications or higher, while a significant 87% had no professional qualifications.

The "three-no" group theoretically signifies a waste of young human resources, decreasing labor utilization efficiency and creating long-term pressure on the social security system. However, this group exists in all economies. These individuals are often in a transitional phase from education to employment, requiring time after graduation to secure suitable work. A portion may temporarily opt out of education or work due to personal, health, or family reasons, or while defining their career path.

Ms. Mai cited the global "three-no" youth rate for 2024 as 20%. For the G7 group, it was 10,6%, the ASEAN region 16,2%, Thailand 12,8%, and Vietnam 10,3%. Compared to the global average, Vietnam's rate remains relatively low. While this rate may not be alarming for the economy as a whole, a prolonged "three-no" status poses a serious problem for individuals and families, with long-term implications for social security. "If the 'three-no' status is prolonged, it easily leads to two 'haves': having debt and having age," she emphasized, highlighting the personal and societal risks.

To maintain a reasonable "three-no" rate and reduce the prolonged and vulnerable segment, Ms. Mai suggested that policies require synchronized coordination among education, vocational training, career counseling, and youth employment support initiatives. Career guidance, in particular, should assist young people in choosing paths aligned with their abilities and interests, while vocational training must develop professional skills relevant to labor market demands.

Hong Chieu