A story posted by a man in Hanoi on social media has recently caught special attention. His son, 23, who studied business administration and graduated with good academic standing, submitted applications widely without securing an acceptable job.

The youth spent most of his time behind closed doors, browsing the internet by day, playing video games by night, and gradually severing contact with former friends. 

When advised by his parents to learn a trade or transition into another field, the young man responded: "Why study when AI exists?"

For his parents, who lived through the subsidy era, such behavior was incomprehensible. During their youth, families lacked resources to maintain an adult child waiting at home for suitable employment. Any available work was accepted. Employment served primarily to secure a livelihood.

The young man was experiencing the NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) phenomenon - a state defining individuals outside the workforce and educational system.

In Vietnam, over 1.4 million youths aged 15–24 belong to this group, according to General Statistics Office (GSO) surveys.

Another case involved a 20-year-old male who dropped out of university after realizing engineering did not suit him. He worked as a ride-hailing driver 10 hours daily, earning roughly VND8 million monthly, before quitting from exhaustion.

On certain days, the young man remained confined to his room, aware of the need to take action yet unable to begin. Eventually, following a period of withdrawal, he resolved to retake university entrance exams hoping to "start over from scratch."

Why does a nation, requiring labor for economic growth, still have over one million youths standing outside both employment and training?

Individuals far from employment doors

The "three-nothings" concept easily evokes images of lazy, work-averse youth dependent on family support. But the reality is more complex.

This demographic includes early school leavers, individuals caring for family members, bachelor’s degree holders unable to find employment, and those who ceased job searches following repeated failures. Some pause for several months; others remain stuck for years.

Only about 32 percent of NEET youth actively seek work and remain available for employment, according to a GSO survey. Unemployed individuals continue knocking on labor market doors, yet the majority of the "three-nothings" group stands far from entry.

When the nest provides enough comfort

The 1950s, 1960s, and part of the 1970s generations view NEET as unfamiliar because youthful circumstances permitted no delay. Poverty forced individuals out of the house to earn a living. Limited information access also prevented standard jobs from being perceived as failures.

Today, improved living standards permit many families to support children past age 25 or even 30. That outcome creates a waiting period that previous generations never experienced.

Smartphones, the internet, and connectivity platforms expose youth to continuous comparison. Salaries, job titles, and peer travels appear daily. A modest entry-level job, once completely standard, is perceived as evidence of falling behind.

Numerous parents provide financial support while discouraging manual, low-wage, or non-major employment for their children. An excessively comfortable ‘nest’ can retain youth longer than anticipated.

Enterprises continue reporting labor shortages. Meanwhile, 87 percent of NEET youth lack technical vocational training. 

Businesses require skilled workers, while higher-level positions demand foreign languages, technology skills, and practical experience. Many students discover these gaps only after seeking jobs with diplomas in hand.

Many youths are raised with instructions to attend university to escape manual labor. When diplomas fail to yield expected office jobs, returning to vocational training is viewed as a regression. Jobs available are unwanted; jobs desired exceed current capabilities.

Golden demography period

Vietnam is experiencing its golden demography period, yet faces rapid population aging, according to the GSO. Youths left behind or standing aside today risk entering old age without pensions or reserve assets.

Vietnam is seeking every means to accelerate growth, yet over one million youths remain outside the labor market. 

Before opening more vocational training classes, policymakers need to understand where young people are getting stuck. Those lacking skills can receive additional training. Those who have stayed at home for too long need help getting back into a routine. Otherwise, they may earn another certificate only to return to the same old room.

The young man mentioned above remains confined to his room. His father continues to experience unrelenting anxiety despite maintaining daily smiles: "We are growing older, and time never stands still. When we pass away, who will take care of our son?"

Lan Anh