VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to create 10 million jobs in the next five years. Under the National Target Programme on Job Creation and Skills Training, about 1.6 million jobs will be created a year, including 80,000-100,000 positions overseas.

People look for jobs at a job fair in HCM City. (Photo: VNS)

Nguyen Dai Dong, director general of the ministry's Employment Department, said at present Viet Nam had a total of 49.3 million workers who accounted for 57.2 per cent of the population.

"About 50 per cent of the working people are in the 15-34 age group," Dong said, adding that young people often lacked working skills.

This meant that the unemployment rate among unskilled young people was double that of their peers with skills in urban areas.

According to Dong, to make sure the five-year target was achieved, his ministry would provide training for 10 million people.

"After finishing their training, we hope at least 70 per cent of them will be able to find jobs," said Dong."Much progress has been recorded in vocational training, yet there are many limitations, particularly in high-level skills."

Deputy Labour Minister Dam Huu Dac said he was happy with what had been achieved in vocational training in recent years.

He said that in 2001 there were 140 vocational schools and 166 vocational centres. In 2008 this increased to 240 secondary vocational schools, 92 vocational colleges and 750 vocational centres.

In 2001, there were more than 887,000 people attending vocational training courses. In 2008, the figure increased to almost 1.5 million people.

Dac said in the past few years, the ministry had organised many courses tailored to fit specific needs of employers.

In addition, it had also organised training courses for farmers to help them create jobs for themselves.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Hoa said in the next five years the ministry would focus more on training people in rural areas, particularly the poor.

"To make sure the target of 10 million new jobs is met in the next five years, it is imperative for the ministry to reform existing vocational schools and their curricula," said Hoa.

"We have to organise more training for rural workers, increase the number of people having access to the national fund to expand business – and send more guest workers abroad."

In the last five years, about 8 million jobs have been created, of which more than 90 per cent were in the non-State sector.

In 1992, the National Fund to Support Employment was established and now has more than VND3,755 billion ($193 million). It operates in all the 63 cities and provinces nationwide.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News