I don't think age 35 will become a barrier when applying for a job" - Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (35 years old, from Nam Dinh) shared.
Previously, Ms. Huong worked in the import-export sector for a business in Hanoi with an income of about 14 million VND/month. At the end of 2025, the company restructured, causing income to decrease while the work pressure was high, so she resigned.
As a mother of two young children, while her husband works in an office, economic pressure is heavy on Ms. Huong. It was thought that with many years of experience in the field of import and export, finding a new job would not be too difficult. However, reality is different.
I sent applications to dozens of businesses. Many places advertise recruitment but require under 30 years old, even under 28 years old. Some places, after looking at the applications, asked directly about the age and then politely refused," Ms. Huong recounted.
In nearly three months of unemployment, she accepted to reduce her income expectations, looking for many different positions but still did not have a stable job.
I think being over 30 is still a prime age to work. Moreover, experienced workers often handle work better. But many businesses seem to still prioritize young people," she said.
Similarly, Mr. Tu Trung Vu (31 years old, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi) said that after 8 years working in the marketing field, when looking for a new job, he realized that opportunities are no longer as easy as before.
Many businesses prioritize recruiting candidates aged 22-25. Meanwhile, people over 30 years old are still healthy, have experience and ability to adapt to new jobs," Mr. Vu shared.
From a business perspective, Mr. Tran Long Giang - Director of Thang Long Architecture Company (TAA) said that the unit often prioritizes recruiting young workers, especially architectural students who are still in school.
According to Mr. Giang, the company orients training young human resources in a practical direction, both learning and working, thereby building a team suitable for the culture and development orientation of the business.
The trend of recruiting young workers helps businesses proactively train long-term human resources. However, this also makes it difficult for many workers over 30 years old to find new job opportunities, even though they have experience and skills accumulated after many years of working.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong, former Director of the Institute of Labor and Social Sciences, age is not a decisive factor in working capacity. In fact, workers over 30 years old often have a lot of experience, work handling skills and adaptability to the working environment.
However, to increase job opportunities, workers also need to proactively improve their professional skills, update new technologies and adapt to the increasing demands of the labor market.
