Unable to find a job, choose to continue studying
In 2025, Ms. Tran Quynh Chi (Thuong Tin commune, Hanoi) graduated from university with honors, majoring in hospitality - tourism.
Once confident that she would quickly find a stable job, but after more than half a year of spreading dozens of job applications, Ms. Chi was not recruited by any company.
There were a few job opportunities, but the company only offered me an unpaid internship for about 3 months before considering signing a contract," Ms. Chi said.
After nearly 1 year of struggling to find a job, in February 2026, Ms. Chi applied for a master's degree in marketing.
The reality that graduates are unemployed, struggling and then deciding to continue studying is creating a chain reaction psychological effect. Instead of facing the harsh reality of the market, many young people choose lecture halls as temporary "hideouts".
Mr. Tran Duc Anh is a bachelor of economic law. Graduating from university in 2024, Mr. Duc Anh struggled for 5 months, then applied to work as an employee for a notary office in Ha Dong ward (Hanoi).
“I worked for 1 month, then the company requested to submit the original diploma, and at the same time issued a draft contract with very binding terms. In which, if I quit my job before the time of completing 2 years of work, I must return 70% of the support money in the first 6 months of apprenticeship. After considering, I decided to quit,” Mr. Duc Anh recounted.
Currently, Mr. Duc Anh is studying for a master's degree in law. "I am afraid of long-term unemployment after graduation. This creates heavy psychological pressure on me and my family. Registering to continue studying for a master's degree gives me a reason to "legitimalize" this vacant time, turning it into a process of improving knowledge instead of admitting that I am unemployed," Mr. Duc Anh admitted.
Learning to "escape" unemployment is a risky mindset
Talking to reporters about the reality that many bachelors and young workers "escape" unemployment by continuing to study, Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment shared that the phenomenon of bachelors not finding jobs and then choosing the path of continuing to study for master's and master's degrees is reflecting a worrying reality about the supply-demand mismatch and the psychology of avoiding pressure of a part of young workers.
Going to continue studying in this context is actually just a temporary solution, a psychological "lifebuoy" and not a solution to the professional problem," Mr. Trung said.
According to Mr. Trung, the labor market is currently moving in a more substantive and stricter direction, reflected in two core points: Businesses need real-world competence, not beautiful degrees; workers are at risk of falling into the trap of "being past their prime" in terms of degrees when they hold an additional academic degree while practical experience is zero, which will inadvertently make it difficult for themselves.
Hiding" under the guise of going to school to avoid the unemployment gap on the CV only wastes more time and money of the family and social resources. The labor market information system and job service centers always have opportunities available, the problem is whether young people are willing to lower their ego, lower their expectations to start from the lowest positions such as apprenticeships, internships or not. Instead of going to school, young workers can go to work immediately, from the lowest position to stumble and accumulate skills first," Mr. Trung said.
Also according to Mr. Trung, continuing to study only truly promotes value when workers have practical experience, understand clearly what knowledge they are lacking to supplement to serve the career advancement path.
