Need for innovation in career transition support

Supporting vocational training and career transition to help workers return to the market quickly is considered an effective solution to ensure social security, especially during the time of reorganizing two-level administrative units.

Workers learn food processing techniques. Photo: LAM PHUONG

What profession and where?

After quitting her job at a company selling airline tickets and tours , Ms. Mai Thi Anh Ly (born in 1988, Thanh Khe district) went to the Da Nang Employment Service Center to submit her application for unemployment insurance. After completing the procedures for unemployment benefits, Ms. Ly was advised by the center's staff about vocational training to change jobs.

After researching, Ms. Ly registered to study culinary arts. “I like cooking, so this is a job that suits my conditions and needs. I hope that after finishing my studies, I will have more experience and skills to find a suitable job for myself,” Ms. Ly said. Similarly, after deciding to quit her old job, Ms. Huynh Thi Bich Trinh (born in 1990, Hai Chau district) applied for unemployment insurance and registered to study beverage preparation with the hope of changing careers after studying.

A representative of the Da Nang Employment Service Center said that from January 1 to May 31, the center received unemployment insurance benefit applications from 7,241 workers, of whom 3,967 were in need of vocational training advice. Of these, 147 people registered for vocational training, divided into 6 classes, including the following occupations: beverage mixing techniques, food processing techniques, digital graphics, therapeutic skin care, and nail care.

According to the leader of the Da Nang Employment Service Center, the center previously performed the function of vocationaleducation and organized on-site vocational training. From March 2025, after the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs ended its operations and transferred the state management function of vocational education to the Department of Education and Training, the Da Nang Employment Service Center reorganized its organization and apparatus, reducing the function of vocational education, so it did not organize vocational training at the center. Instead, workers who came to submit their unemployment insurance applications were given vocational training advice and were introduced to vocational training institutions in the city to participate in vocational training.

Director of Da Nang Employment Service Center Nguyen Duc Tri said that the center is cooperating with units: Da Nang Vocational College, Commercial College, Viet A Vocational College, Cam Anh Vocational Beauty Training Center, and driving training centers to organize consultation, enrollment and vocational training for workers who enjoy unemployment insurance. After completing the course, students will receive free consultation and job referrals from the center or vocational training institution.

Need more changes

In fact, despite many efforts in counseling and vocational training, the number of unemployed workers participating in vocational training is still very modest. According to Mr. Tri, there are many reasons why workers are not interested in vocational training support policies. Accordingly, when workers are unemployed and their income is affected, they often tend to look for temporary, short-term jobs to earn income, so they cannot arrange time for vocational training.

In addition, the current vocational training support level is still low, only supporting tuition fees, there is no other support during the vocational training period such as: accommodation, travel expenses, etc. Meanwhile, the unemployment benefit level is limited, only enough to cover living expenses, so workers cannot pay for expenses arising during the vocational training process. On the other hand, the vocational training needs of workers are diverse, not concentrated at the same time and place, making it difficult to open classes.

Accordingly, to make vocational training support for unemployed workers more practical and suitable to the new situation, it is necessary to amend and supplement some policies. Specifically, there should be more support for accommodation and travel expenses for workers during vocational training. At the same time, unemployment benefits should be increased so that workers can ensure their lives and have time and conditions to learn a trade.

To encourage workers to learn a trade, the Da Nang Employment Service Center is coordinating with vocational training institutions to research and open new majors that are suitable for the labor market to attract learners. At the same time, it introduces workers to vocational training at facilities that are linked with businesses in vocational training and job creation, with a commitment to ensuring employment after graduation to help workers return to work soon.

Currently and in the coming years, a large number of workers, especially in the public sector, are leaving the job market due to the restructuring policy. It is necessary to soon change the policy to support unemployed workers in vocational training and career change in order to increase the rate of unemployed workers receiving vocational training to change jobs, have jobs, and stable income to ensure social security balance.

LAM PHUONG

Source: https://baodanang.vn/xa-hoi/202506/can-doi-moi-trong-ho-tro-chuyen-doi-nghe-nghiep-4009786/