Vocational Training – The Sustainable Value of Labor in the New Era

Vietnam currently has about 45 million workers who need to be retrained to adapt to the context of digital transformation, automation and changes in economic structure. The story of vocational training is the story of creating sustainable value for labor in the new era.

Vocational training – from a job “ticket” to integration luggage

For decades, vocational training was considered a “secondary” choice compared to university. Many parents and students assumed that university was the door to a better life, while vocational training was only for those with average academic performance or those who did not meet the entrance exam requirements. This perception caused Vietnam’s vocational training system to fall into a difficult situation, with many vocational schools operating at a low level or even closing due to lack of enrollment. However, the picture of the labor market in the new decade has completely changed.

Students of Hanoi Polytechnic Vocational College practice car repair.

According to statistics, currently up to 70% of job demand is concentrated in the group of mid-skilled workers - those with solid practical skills, the ability to operate machinery, repair equipment, and manufacture products. Meanwhile, the supply is scarce. This paradox makes many businesses complain that they cannot recruit technical workers and skilled workers, while tens of thousands of bachelors and masters are still unemployed or working in jobs that are not related to their expertise.

This shows that vocational training is no longer a “backup path” but has become a proactive and wise choice for those who want to quickly enter the labor market. By learning a solid profession, workers not only have stable jobs but also open up opportunities for self-employment, building small businesses or becoming sought-after experts.

Career Value in Times of Change

In the context of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution, the concept of a career is not limited to “doing a specific job” but is also associated with the ability to adapt and retrain. An electrician can learn more skills about green energy; a mechanic can be trained to operate robots; a tailor can switch to designing and creating high-end fashion products for the international market.

The most important thing about vocational training is practicality. There is no need for lengthy theories; learners are directly exposed to machines, materials, and production processes. Each hour of study is an hour of skill training. This is what makes the difference: vocational skills can be immediately verified by the products and services produced, not just on the diploma.

Having solid skills is the "passport" for workers to affirm their value.

The value of a profession also lies in its sustainability. While some “hot” professions are easy to rise but also fade quickly, crafts, technical professions, and essential service professions always exist with society. A good auto mechanic will always have customers, a talented chef will always find a place, a highly skilled medical technician will always be needed by the community. A profession is not only a source of income, but also a source of pride, a “certificate” of the worker.

Moreover, modern society has changed the way of looking at things, skilled workers can earn many times more than office graduates. In fact, many skilled workers in the fields of construction, mechanics, electricity, electronics, beauty, and cuisine are earning from 20-40 million VND/month, or even more, thanks to the scarcity of high-quality human resources. The value of a profession, therefore, is not only a means of making a living but also a legitimate path to becoming rich.

Investing in vocational training – investing in the future

When the Government and international organizations warn that up to 45 million Vietnamese workers need to be retrained, it is not only a personal issue but also a matter of economic survival. Without a skilled workforce, Vietnam will find it difficult to take advantage of opportunities from foreign investment flows, to participate deeply in the global value chain, and to build a society based on knowledge and innovation.

Investing in vocational training is therefore investing in the future of the nation. Vocational schools need to be upgraded, their programs modernized, and closely linked with businesses to train according to actual needs. Workers need to be supported with tuition fees and encouraged to study throughout their lives, so that whenever the market changes, they can update their skills.

In particular, it is necessary to change social perceptions: vocational training is not a “narrow path” but a parallel path to university, with no less value and potential. Vocational training must be promoted as a prestigious choice, because behind every quality product, every sustainable project, are the hands and minds of skilled workers.

In an era where knowledge and practical skills determine the existence of each individual, vocational training is not only personal but also closely linked to the development of society. A solid career is a “passport” for workers to integrate, affirm their values, and build a sustainable future for themselves and for the country.

baovanhoa.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/hoc-nghe-gia-tri-ben-vung-cua-lao-dong-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-post879979.html