Workers over 40 and the problem of re-entering the labor market when losing their jobs

Unskilled workers and skilled workers are likely to lose their jobs

More than 3 months since losing his position as sales deputy of a company specializing in high-end kitchen equipment in Phuong Liet ward (Hanoi), Mr. Tran Minh Thanh, born in 1982, has been wandering around looking for a job.

Mr. Thanh participated in groups, on social networks, asked friends to introduce him... to find a job but has not yet successfully connected with the employer.

Some businesses responded to my CV, assessing me as having experience but not being experienced enough and not being able to compete with existing business personnel; some businesses were not sympathetic because I only had experience working in private companies. Looking back at myself, I see that compared to young workers who have just joined the labor market, our generation is inferior in every aspect, said Mr. Thanh.

Having the same difficulty finding a new job even though he has become a department head, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung (born in 1980) said that the biggest obstacle when applying for a job is age. "Although I have advantages in expertise, professionalism, and work-resolution experience, it is difficult for me to compete with many young people who are dynamic and professional," Mr. Tung shared.

Ms. Do Thi Nhung is a worker at a garment company in Viet Hung ward (Hanoi). Having been with the company for 16 years, in June 2025, Ms. Nhung was informed that she would be subject to personnel cuts due to reduced orders. The cut will take place in the third quarter of 2025.

At the age of 45, Ms. Nhung could not help but be shocked when hearing the news of her unemployment. She immediately asked relatives and friends to introduce her to find a new job. However, unlike Ms. Nhung's initial image, as a person with many years of experience, meticulousness and hard work, he will easily have a new job, and the places introduced all shook their heads with the refusal: "Age!".

"For me, there were more than a dozen female workers over 40 years old who were cut at the same time. We set up a Zalo group, informing each other daily about the situation of job search. Up to now, almost no one has found a new job. Some people work as hourly help workers, cleaning for companies... - Ms. Nhung said.

Many challenges

Commenting on the difficulties of older workers in finding jobs, especially female workers, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - former Director of the Institute of Social Labor Science (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) said that middle-aged workers have difficulty finding jobs in the current labor market.

The first reason to mention is that the labor market is increasingly competitive and changing rapidly. The rapid development of technology and automation has changed many industries, making the traditional skills that middle-aged workers possess outdated. Modern jobs often require skills in using new technology that middle-aged workers may lack.

In addition, young workers are often given priority for recruitment because they are newly trained, have the ability to use technology and can be willing to work with lower salaries. This creates more fierce competition for middle-aged workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong also said that losing a job at the age of 40 and having to work face many difficulties and challenges. In recent years, losing a job at a seemingly stable age has been a reality in the job market. The "shock" for many people is being too confident in their experience and the "seat" they have been in for many years.

"The advice for this group of employees is to know yourself, know your staff, adjust the requirements to suit the employer instead of self-assessing yourself as a valuable candidate and the employer must meet the requirements to have a friend," said Ms. Lan Huong.

According to the Hanoi Employment Service Center, in September 2025, the capital will have 36,000 people looking for jobs; 3,405/5,404 (63.02%) of those receiving unemployment benefits in Hanoi in September 2025 are working-age workers (25-40 years old).

Thus, the unemployment and difficulty in finding a job not only occurs in the working group over the age of 40, but even the golden age is facing difficulties. In particular, the unskilled labor force faces the most difficulties in finding jobs in the digital age, automation systems are gradually changing the job market, said Mr. Vu Quang Thanh - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center.