The rise of youth unemployment
In the first half of 2025, Vietnam’s unemployment rate remained low at 2.2%. Among young people aged 15–24, however, the figure jumped to nearly 7.9%, more than three times the overall average. This rise in youth unemployment shows that the skills gap remains a major problem for the labour market: many students graduate but do not yet meet employers’ requirements, while urban areas – where young people are concentrated – have unemployment rates twice as high as rural areas.
In contrast to the surplus of young labour, the ESG (Environmental – Social – Governance) market is facing a shortage. Sustainability regulations and reporting requirements under CSRD, ISSB and GRI are turning ESG into a mandatory standard for listed companies, financial institutions and exporters. Once a supporting role, ESG has now moved to the “front line”, with a stream of new positions being recruited continuously: from ESG Officer and Sustainability Manager to carbon accounting specialist and ESG data analyst.
This is both an opportunity and a challenge for young workers. The opportunity lies in the fact that ESG is still new, with few veteran experts, opening the way for Gen Z and Millennials – who are tech-savvy and green-minded. The challenge, however, is that most students lack in-depth ESG skills and are unfamiliar with business practice, leaving a wide gap between knowledge and applied capability.
While youth unemployment remains a concern, ESG is emerging as a way forward
Against this backdrop, VietESG has emerged as a “trusted address” for businesses. Mr Phạm Quốc Hưng – CEO of VietESG – said that in just two years, 2024–2025, the organisation has trained nearly 100 ESG experts from foundation to advanced level. After training, learners not only master the techniques of preparing sustainability reports and greenhouse gas reports but can also start work in businesses immediately, with 95% finding a job or increasing their income.
“We see demand for ESG staff coming not only from domestic businesses but also from international corporations. What they need is not degrees or age, but candidates who can get straight to work with clear performance. This shows that ESG is a field where effectiveness and practical experience are the key factors,” Mr Hưng emphasised.
He added that in the first half of 2025 alone, VietESG received numerous recruitment requests from the HR departments of large businesses and organisations seeking senior positions such as Director of Sustainable Development, national project research specialists and ESG experts. This clearly reflects the “thirst” for quality ESG talent, while affirming VietESG’s reputation as a bridge between the market and a new workforce.
Although training is not its core service, VietESG is becoming the place recruiters turn to when they need ESG staff with international standards and the ability to start work immediately. “We consider this an honour and also a motivation to keep supporting businesses, helping build a community of ESG experts and thereby promoting sustainable development in Vietnam,” Mr Hưng shared.
In the bigger picture, while youth unemployment remains a concern, ESG is emerging as a way forward. And with the active involvement of training providers such as VietESG, opportunities for young people go beyond finding a job: they are a journey to becoming a pioneering force in the economy’s green transition.
