To clarify this issue further, the Education and Times newspaper conducted an interview with Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao – Deputy Director of the City's Youth Employment Service Center (YES Center).

Madam, based on your experience advising thousands of young people in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, how has the mindset of young people when deciding to work abroad changed compared to the past?

Through the process of connecting with consulting and labor export businesses, the Center has observed a significant change in the mindset of young people today.

Previously, many viewed working abroad as a way to increase income, improve family living standards, and accumulate capital. However, young people today tend to have a broader perspective, questioning what additional skills and career opportunities they will gain and how they can utilize that experience upon returning to Vietnam.

You are more interested in foreign languages, professional skills, corporate culture, work ethic, the ability to work internationally, and career development opportunities after returning home.

Therefore, workers need to understand that working abroad is not just about "making money," but a process of training, development, and capital accumulation. With good preparation, workers will have assets far greater than savings: a profession, foreign language skills, work discipline, and international experience.

Considering regional characteristics, how does the level of interest in these programs among young people in Ho Chi Minh City differ from that in the Southeast or Mekong Delta regions?

Each region has different characteristics and needs. Young people in Ho Chi Minh City have the advantage of access to information, foreign languages, and training facilities. Therefore, when researching programs, they often ask many questions about career paths, contract conditions, the receiving market, and development opportunities after returning home.

Meanwhile, in some other localities, the need to improve income and support family finances remains a major driving force. This requires labor export companies to design appropriate approaches for each region, from dissemination of information and career counseling to financial support. Especially for rural youth, it is necessary to provide guidance to help them understand the opportunities, costs, rights, obligations, and risks before making a decision.

From the perspective of the beneficiary, what is the biggest barrier that makes young people hesitant to apply for overseas work?

In reality, there are many barriers for workers. Initial costs are a major issue, as families struggle to prepare the necessary funds before departure. Language skills and professional qualifications are also obstacles, leading many to require additional training time because they do not yet meet the requirements of the receiving market.

Job fair at Saigon University.

Another barrier is the psychological fear of opaque information, unregulated brokers, or the risk of fraud. When workers cannot distinguish between official information and legitimate costs, their apprehension is completely understandable. Therefore, the challenge is not just about "sending people abroad," but about helping workers go through the correct program, fulfilling the contract, and fully understanding their rights to avoid being scammed.

Many young workers, after 3-5 years of working in developed markets with high skills, return home to work as unskilled laborers or engage in small-scale trading. What are your thoughts on this waste?

This is an issue that needs to be seriously considered from the perspective of human resource utilization. A young person, after a few years of working abroad, can accumulate professional skills, foreign language proficiency, industrial work ethics, and international work experience. If these capabilities are not recognized and utilized by the domestic market, we are missing out on a valuable human resource.

However, the Center does not consider starting a business or pursuing other work as a failure. If it is a proactive choice and aligns with one's abilities, the worker is still creating value. The challenge lies in how those seeking career advancement can find positions commensurate with their accumulated experience abroad.

So, to address the "Post-Labor Export" issue, what kind of coordination mechanism do we need, and what policy recommendations do you have to increase the value of young people?

From the perspective of a connecting unit, the Center recognizes the need for synchronized solutions. Before departure, it is necessary to build a database on occupations, skills, and job markets for workers. While abroad, it is possible to maintain connections to update information on domestic recruitment needs.

Before returning home, there needs to be a mechanism connecting workers with vocational schools, employment service centers, and businesses. Vocational education institutions can assess and supplement missing skills, while businesses can participate in ordering human resources so that workers "have job opportunities upon returning home."

Students from the University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, during a thematic workshop: "Self-positioning skills and personal branding in the digital age".

Regarding recommendations, we need to connect policies into a unified roadmap to ensure that workers do not experience a "disruption" in support. We need a mechanism to recognize and transform international work experience into a domestic professional advantage and connect this group of workers with businesses that need their services.

Finally, what key advice would she give to young people who are facing the decision of working abroad?

If you choose to work abroad, consider it an investment in yourself. Choose a job that aligns with your career goals; thoroughly research the employer, contract, costs, and seriously prepare your language skills and professional expertise.

You shouldn't make decisions based solely on broker recommendations or social media; instead, seek advice from official channels to verify information before signing any contract.

Most importantly, set clear goals: go abroad to learn a trade, improve your skills, and return with a renewed sense of self. Working abroad not only changes your income but can also transform your abilities, mindset, and future career opportunities.

Thank you very much, Madam!

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