In the context of the government's efforts to streamline the state apparatus, reform the administration, and improve operational efficiency, many officials and professionals in the public sector are facing significant changes in their jobs and positions. The downsizing process creates a large gap in supporting career transitions.
According to statistics, from 2021 to the present, nearly 80,000 civil servants and public employees nationwide have been laid off, many of whom face job loss and pressure to change careers. In 2022 alone, approximately 39,500 civil servants and public employees resigned, representing a significant proportion of the public sector workforce. Many of those resigning were from important sectors such as education and healthcare, creating significant pressure on the labor market. After leaving the state system, civil servants and public employees face numerous challenges, including a lack of necessary skills for working in the private sector; direct competition with younger workers who are more familiar with technology and the market; and more. Leaving stable jobs in the public sector leads to difficulties in maintaining income and living standards. This raises a crucial issue that needs a solution. The question is how can civil servants, after downsizing, adapt, develop, and seek new career opportunities in the private sector or even start their own businesses? Given these practical circumstances, Vietnam needs a comprehensive support policy to help civil servants and public employees sustainably transition to new careers. This support not only addresses employment issues but also ensures fairness and social security within the administrative reform process.
Currently, the global trend of retraining and career transition is receiving significant attention from many countries, which are implementing timely support policies. Countries such as Germany, Singapore, and Japan have successfully implemented retraining models to help their workforce adapt to new market demands, which could serve as valuable lessons for Vietnam.
Recognizing this urgent need, a scientific and practical workshop on the theme "Supporting career transition for public sector workers after downsizing" was organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, through the Institute of Policy and Management, in collaboration with VNFund and Vietnam Women's Newspaper, with the goal of providing practical solutions, support tools, and resource connections to help public sector workers proactively and effectively reorient their careers.
With tens of thousands of civil servants leaving the state apparatus each year, supporting their career transition is an urgent task to ensure social stability and enhance labor productivity. The workshop is expected to offer specific solutions and proposals to fill this gap, particularly in building a sustainable support ecosystem linked to the digital transformation context, creating conditions for the state, businesses, universities, and social organizations to coordinate and support career transitions effectively and over the long term. The workshop also serves as an important opportunity for workers wishing to change careers to access the proposed support solutions.
1. Time, location, and format of the workshop.
- Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Thursday, March 27, 2025.
- Location: Room 304, Building E, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 336 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi
2. Some topics discussed at the Workshop
- Streamlining the organizational structure and reducing the workforce: policies, opportunities, challenges, and issues that need to be addressed.
- Labor market trends, occupational skills, and career transition opportunities for public sector workers.
- International experiences in supporting public sector workers in career transitions and proposals for solutions to support career transitions in Vietnam.
- Success story: How did civil servants transition to new careers?
- Preparing public sector workers psychologically for their entry into the private sector labor market.
- Several specific guidelines and support solutions to help workers transition to new careers have been proposed by management agencies, universities, and businesses.
This is a scientific and practical activity with scientifically-based information, practical, specific, and feasible solutions for specific stakeholders, especially public sector workers who need career change, and related organizations and individuals in the career transition support ecosystem.
3. Contact details:
