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In the morning at a small coffee shop by the national highway, Nguyen Van Hoang (23 years old, from Nghe An) sat silently in front of an old phone.Hoang used to study at a vocational college, then dropped out.For nearly two years now, he has stayed at home to help his family, occasionally doing odd jobs.Not continuing to study, no stable job, no training participation.Hoang became one of millions of young people being "stuck" in a void called "3 no".
Hoang's story is not unique.Behind the dry statistics are lives that are drifting in silence, without clear goals, without opportunities to break through.
According to the latest data, Vietnam currently has nearly 1.6 million young people aged 15-24 who are uneducated, unemployed, and do not participate in vocational training. This number is equivalent to more than 11% of the total number of young people. This is a rate that cannot be underestimated.
It is worth mentioning that this phenomenon takes place in a paradoxical context: Businesses continuously complain about labor shortages, especially skilled labor, while a significant number of young people are standing aside.
In industrial parks across the country, it is not difficult to see signs "Recruiting large numbers of workers". But the reality is extremely harsh. For example, in Can Tho, JIA ZHI Co., Ltd. is planning to expand its scale to about 700 - 800 workers, even possibly exceeding the 1,000-person mark when completing more factories.
However, the personnel problem is becoming a pressure when businesses lack labor, while production demand is increasing. Currently, the company has to organize overtime to ensure order progress, thereby helping workers' income increase by more than 1 million VND/month depending on the position.
Similarly, Tri - Viet International Co., Ltd. is also planning to expand production to Vinh Long province because the factory in Can Tho has reached maximum capacity. This enterprise is expected to recruit about 200 workers in the second quarter, including 70 workers in Can Tho and more than 100 workers in Vinh Long.
According to Mr. Quach Minh Thao - Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, the current recruitment source is quite abundant, but mainly unskilled labor, while skilled labor is scarce.
Or in Nghe An, about 30,000 - 35,000 people enter the working age each year. It is forecasted that in 2026, the recruitment demand of large enterprises in Nghe An Economic Zone and Industrial Parks is nearly 90,000 workers; FDI enterprises account for the majority (over 70% of recruitment demand), focusing on industries such as electronic component manufacturing, green energy, export garment, auto components... ...
However, businesses are facing difficulties in recruiting and attracting labor, especially skilled labor and high-quality labor. Currently, the labor structure of the province continues to shift in a positive direction; labor in the agricultural, forestry and fishery sector is still about 28 - 30%; industry - construction sector is about 32 - 34%; service sector is about 36 - 38%, reflecting the trend of gradually decreasing agricultural labor and increasing labor in industries and services.
There is a shortage of human resources, but there are still young people like Hoang: Staying at home, working freelance, or simply... doing nothing.
An invisible gap is dividing labor supply and demand.
Going deeper into the story, many experts believe that the root of the problem lies in the "dismatch".
A part of young people enter the labor market with high expectations: stable jobs, good income, comfortable environment. But reality requires skills, experience and adaptability. Unfortunately, those are things they do not yet have.
Many university graduates are still struggling to find jobs. Conversely, businesses lack technical workers and skilled human resources.
A human resources officer at Thang Long Industrial Park (Hanoi) shared: "Many young people come for interviews but lack basic skills, from communication to labor discipline. Businesses really need people, but cannot recruit at all costs.
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Not just a job story, the "3 no's" situation also leaves deep consequences. In sociology, it is called the "scar effect" - when an individual is interrupted from studying and working for too long, they easily lose social connection, reduce confidence and lose motivation.
Many young people after a long period of unemployment fall into a state of withdrawal, reluctance to communicate, and even avoid opportunities.
“Initially, it was just a break to find a direction, but then the longer I stayed at home, the more hesitant I became to go out,” Hoang admitted.
The longer the gap in the capacity profile, the narrower the door turns. It's a silent but dangerous vortex.
A common prejudice is to consider "3 no" youth to be lazy to work. But in reality, it is not that simple. Many young people still have a need to work, and even actively seek opportunities. However, they cannot find suitable jobs, or do not have enough conditions to access them. Some people lack skills, some lack information, and some are entangled in family circumstances.
Vietnam is in the "golden population" period, when the young labor force accounts for a large proportion. This is a rare advantage to promote growth. But if 1.6 million young people are not properly exploited, this advantage could become a burden.
The consequences are not only limited to the present: Labor productivity decreases, the quality of human resources weakens, and social security pressure increases. In other words, we may have "quantity" but lack "quality".
The "3 no" problem cannot be solved by short-term measures. It requires a comprehensive strategy, from education to the labor market.
According to labor and employment experts, career orientation is needed early. Right from high school, students need to be clearly oriented towards their careers, avoiding the situation of "following crowds to study".
Then it is to improve the quality of vocational training. The vocational education system needs to be more attractive, associated with the actual needs of businesses.
Strengthen the connection between schools and businesses. Students need to have internships and practical experiences right during the learning process.
Building a labor data system, creating an employment ecosystem in the locality. Especially in rural areas, it is necessary to develop new economic models such as high-tech agriculture, e-commerce, and community tourism.
But it is also necessary to admit that, no matter how good the policy is, if young people themselves do not change, all efforts will be difficult to achieve efficiency. In a rapidly changing world, skills are no longer something that is learned once and used for a lifetime. Young people need to constantly learn, update, and accept starting from small positions.
Don't wait for perfect work, start with a suitable job," a human resources expert recommends.
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Recently, Hoang texted me: "I will go back to school, I have to have a job, brother!". I texted congratulations and hoped you would try your best.
Retraining, it may just be a small step. But for those who are standing outside the game, each step is meaningful. 1.6 million "3 no" youths are not just numbers. That is 1.6 million untapped opportunities, 1.6 million futures waiting to be awakened.
If there are no timely actions, that gap will widen. But if there is the right strategy and proactiveness from each individual, it can also be the greatest resource for the country to break through in the new era.
