The Reality of Higher Education and Employment in Vietnam
The story of Hien, a young woman who left her desk job to become a bartender and cocktail waitress, highlights the growing disconnection between education and employment in Vietnam. Earning around VND16 million a month, Hien feels compelled to hide her job from her parents, opting instead to tell them she works in the food and beverage industry. This choice reflects a broader societal stigma surrounding manual labor jobs, particularly for university graduates.
A Costly Education with Little Return
After four years of intense study and significant financial investment in her law degree, Hien finds herself without a viable job that matches her qualifications. Many graduates like her are grappling with a grim reality in Vietnam’s job market, where the value of a degree is increasingly being questioned. A recent report from the Ho Chi Minh City Center of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labor Market Information indicates that less than 20% of the positions available in Ho Chi Minh City are suited for applicants holding university degrees. Paradoxically, around 85% of potential workers in the area are degree holders.
The Shrinking Job Market
Labor market trends indicate a stark decrease in demand for graduates in various sectors, including law, tourism, information technology, textiles, and marketing. This decline has led many students to the brink of unemployment right after graduation. Human resources experts warn that the competition for jobs has become so fierce that highly educated individuals like Hien and her peers are now vying for manual labor positions that typically do not require advanced degrees.
Stories of Displacement
Nguyen Duy Khoa, another graduate with a marketing degree, exemplifies this struggle. Despite his extensive experience and confidence, he faced a challenging job hunt, submitting applications to numerous companies over four months without success. The only feedback he received was a rejection from a company that deemed him “not a good fit.” Frustrated yet determined, Khoa turned to work as a moto courier to sustain himself while he continues searching for a suitable position. Unfortunately, the oversaturation of drivers in the ride-hailing market means that finding enough work is a daily struggle.
The situation is similarly disheartening for Le Dung, a mechanical engineer who also faced extensive delays in securing a job post-graduation. Forced to take on low-skilled jobs like that of a moto courier, he wrestles with feelings of regret about his educational choices. “I feel sad sometimes,” he admitted, reflecting on the stark contrast between his aspirations and the reality of his situation.
The Role of Education Quality
Experts attribute the crisis facing graduates in Vietnam to several systemic issues within the higher education system. Notably, the government’s investment in education remains low, contributing to a lack of improvement in training quality. In 2017, spending on higher education accounted for only 0.34% of the country’s GDP, as reported by the Academy of Finance. Furthermore, the chaotic structure of governance among educational institutions—often overlapping between the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs—exacerbates inconsistencies in the quality of education offered.
The Demand for Educational Reform
Many experts believe that a focused effort from the Ministry of Education and Training is crucial for creating a high-quality domestic labor market. By prioritizing investments in education, the government can better equip graduates to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. This shift could contribute to enhancing not just individual prospects but also the broader socio-economic conditions of the country.
In the meantime, individuals like Hien continue to navigate a challenging landscape. While her job comes with risks—deteriorating memory, hearing issues, and eyesight concerns—she feels she has no other options for survival. The pressure to earn a living drives her to continue working in a role that often feels beneath her potential, showcasing the broader struggles faced by many educated young people in Vietnam today.