Mr. Phung Van Duc (My Dinh ward, Hanoi) has been receiving unemployment benefits for 2 months, and every month he has to go to the Hanoi Employment Service Center to report the employment status. Despite being advised by the staff of the Hanoi Employment Service Center, Mr. Duc still has no intention of learning a trade.
I am looking for a new job. At this time, the demand for recruitment in the refrigeration industry is not high, so I determined it will not be easy," said Mr. Duc.
Regarding the reason for not participating in training courses to improve skills or learn other skills to change jobs according to the advice of the Hanoi Employment Service Center, Mr. Duc said that as soon as he registered for unemployment benefits, he was advised by staff of the Hanoi Employment Service Center about free vocational training courses but he was afraid to study because of his old age.
"I am 38 years old, now I go to vocational training to change jobs and find it difficult to adapt. I am on unemployment benefits leave and looking for a new job. After receiving 6 months of unemployment benefits, if finding a job is too difficult, I will consider it again," Duc shared.
According to Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Lieu, Deputy Director of Hanoi Employment Service Center, the number of people registering to learn a trade at Hanoi Employment Service Center in 2023 is 778 people; in 2024 is 1,162 people; in the first 7 months of 2025, it is 647.
Many workers, even though they have decided to support vocational training, do not come to receive the decision or do not attend classes. For example, among 1,162 people who have decided to study a trade in 2024, 110 people (10%) did not come to receive it, only more than 700 people attended the course. It is worth mentioning that among the participants, only about 60% have completed the course, 40% are unfinished, said Ms. Lieu.
Regarding the reason why workers are not interested in vocational training or are still studying, Ms. Lieu said that workers may find new jobs, have their own plans or some return to their hometowns, and not stay in the city...
In addition, the majority of unemployed workers are the main breadwinners of their families. When they lose their jobs, their income is affected, so they need to have money to compensate for financial shortages without focusing on the right to vocational training support. Not to mention, the vocational training needs of workers are also quite diverse, not concentrated in the same time and location, making it difficult to organize classes for this special group of workers.
In particular, the current vocational training support level is still low, the maximum is 1,500,000 VND/person/month, not meeting the requirements for improving training quality. Meanwhile, businesses have not focused on prioritizing people with primary qualifications, so they have not encouraged workers to receive unemployment insurance to participate in vocational training. The problem of "output" for some industries is still limited, so it is difficult to attract workers...
Explaining the reason why unemployed workers are not interested in vocational training, Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment said that due to awareness, policies, and organization of both vocational training institutions and enterprises.
Mr. Trung pointed out that the content and vocational training are not close and do not meet the actual needs of the labor market; teaching skills are not in accordance with business requirements. In addition, workers are aware of limitations and lack of confidence in the quality of training facilities or do not want to participate in training while needing jobs immediately to make ends meet. Not to mention, the vocational training support regime is low (1,500,000 VND/person/month), not supported for living expenses, travel... The coordination between training institutions and businesses is still limited, the outputs of vocational training are not specific.
According to Article 42 of the 2013 Law on Employment, unemployment insurance policies include: Unemployment benefits; support for job counseling and referral; vocational training support; support for training, fostering, and improving vocational skills to maintain employment for workers.
