To help young people firmly establish themselves and their careers

However, whether or not to seize that opportunity requires Vietnamese youth to be active and proactive in learning and constantly updating new knowledge.

Nursing students (Hanoi Medical College) practice taking care of the elderly. *Photo: Anh Hong*

It is not easy to take advantage of the golden population structure.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Vietnam entered a period of golden population structure in 2007 and is expected to last until 2039. During this period, the working-age population is twice as high as the dependent population, creating favorable conditions for economic growth, savings and investment.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam's population is estimated to reach 102 million people by 2025, with the working-age population accounting for 67.4%. However, the opportunity to take advantage of the golden population structure in our country is gradually closing, as the population aging rate increases rapidly, in the context of high unemployment, unstable jobs, low job quality..., accompanied by the double burden of economic development and elderly care. The data of 71.7% of Vietnamese workers in 2024 who have not received formal training and lack vocational certificates, working in the wrong industry or profession... also reflects the challenges in this goal.

Referring to the issue of low quality jobs that waste the potential of young human resources in the current period, Dr. Dang Vu Canh Linh, Director of the Institute for Youth Research - Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said that many young people have to work in the informal sector with low wages, poor working conditions, no social insurance and unstable. This not only affects current life, but also creates great risks for the future, especially in the context of Vietnam approaching the aging population process.

Part-time and precarious employment is on the rise, especially in the service sector, which, while providing flexibility for workers, also creates new challenges for job security and long-term career development. Jobs such as motorbike taxi drivers, delivery services and other online services provide short-term income for many young people but lack opportunities for skill development and career advancement. This leads to many young people being “stuck” in low-income jobs with no long-term development prospects.

Flexible, proactive in seizing opportunities

Commenting that “Vietnam’s success in taking advantage of its golden population structure depends largely on its ability to invest in young people, creating favorable conditions for them to develop their potential and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development”, Matthew David Jackson, Chief Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, said that Vietnam can transform its current golden population structure into an important driving force for long-term sustainable development, while preparing for the aging population process.

Currently, UNFPA is supporting the implementation of a number of projects to build a model for youth to adapt to population aging, focusing on helping young people proactively prepare for old age through practical activities related to health, finance, psychology and society; creating conditions for young people to accompany the elderly, contributing to building a harmonious and sustainable society.

Discussing career opportunities in the context of the golden population structure, Nguyen Thi Anh Duong, Secretary of a Youth Union branch of the Vietnam Youth Academy, emphasized the goal of "young people must become high-quality human resources", and affirmed: "I myself am studying Psychology. Seizing the opportunity in the golden population period, I think the responsibility of young people is to constantly update knowledge of new and modern technology. Along with that, in the face of population aging, I will not miss the opportunities to improve capacity, knowledge, and skills in caring for the elderly; develop more projects and programs of activities with the theme of Happy Elderly".

As a student of Social Work, Vu Ha Tuong Vy said she is cultivating her skills to be able to participate in jobs related to the goal of developing a comprehensive elderly care system and promoting active aging. “The labor market related to jobs in caring for the elderly, especially the lonely elderly, will grow larger. Young people need to proactively prepare their skills to maximize job opportunities in this system,” Vu Ha Tuong Vy affirmed.

Vietnam has only about 15 years left to take advantage of its golden population structure, and at the same time, must be ready to face the trend of population aging. The current strong transition requires young people to be proactive and quickly access high-tech jobs. Along with that, as the proportion of the elderly increases rapidly, the need for long-term care and medical services will increase exponentially, and young people can take advantage of related job opportunities.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/de-thanh-nien-vung-vang-lap-than-lap-nghiep-704815.html