HCMC – A growing number of young job seekers in HCMC are turning to social media to find employment, with nearly 80% using social media platforms to connect with potential employers, according to a recent survey.
About 78.8% of surveyed youths search for jobs through social media, while 50.8% use online recruitment websites, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, vice dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Ton Duc Thang University, was quoted by Phap Luat newspaper website (plo.vn) as saying.
Trang was speaking at a forum titled “Young workforce – Aspiration for city development” on May 21. The event was organized by the HCMC Youth Employment Services Center and brought together government officials, businesses, and young people to discuss ways to enhance youth employment and the city’s socio-economic growth.
The study, which surveyed over 5,500 youths in HCMC—of whom 73% were university students aged 18 to 25—found that most job seekers expect fair compensation, even if salary is not their top priority. Some 31.6% prioritize salary and benefits, while 78.2% hope to receive decent pay and welfare.
However, many young workers face major obstacles. About 79.25% cited intense competition in the labor market, 63.6% said they lacked work experience, and 50.8% admitted they had not mastered professional skills.
Despite these challenges, most remain proactive in acquiring new skills, with 56.7% open to working outside their fields of study if the jobs suit their interests or offer good prospects.
Meanwhile, a survey by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union showed that education and healthcare were the most sought-after sectors, with 30% of respondents expressing interest. They were followed by services and commerce (24%), and finance and banking (18%).
Regarding employer preferences, 44% of participants said they would like to work for state-owned enterprises, while 26% favored private firms, 18% preferred multinational corporations, and 12% wanted to join startups.
Salary remains a key consideration. Around 46% of those surveyed expected a monthly salary ranging from VND10 to 20 million, 25% sought VND5 million to VND10 million, 15% hoped for more than VND30 million, and 14% looked for between VND20 million and 30 million.
When choosing a job, 31.6% of respondents prioritized good pay and benefits, followed by 25.1% who valued a friendly working environment.
In terms of ideal workplace culture, 34.8% preferred a professional and well-structured environment, 28.3% favored friendliness, 24.7% sought a dynamic and creative space, and 12.2% wanted flexibility and autonomy.
