Hanoi prioritizes job creation amid major administrative overhaul

THE HANOI TIMES — Creating new jobs is among the top priorities for Hanoi to ensure socio-economic growth, and social stability.

The situation has become urgent as many governrment officials, public employees, and laborers are looking for new jobs after the city reshaped its administrative organization in early July.

Nguyen Thi Hien, a government official, had been working at a commune office in Hanoi's former suburban district of Hoai Duc for 15 years.

When the city removed all district-level governments, and started operating under the two-tier local government model, Hien was among those who lost their positions.

“At first, I was really worried,” she recalled. “Then I learned that Hanoi organizes regular job fairs for people like me."

"That information has given me peace of mind. For now, I’m taking a short break before joining those job fairs and look for new opportunities.”

Hien’s story is far from unique.

According to the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs, the city's administrative restructuring is designed to cut administrative costs and build a leaner, more efficient bureaucracy.

Hanoi has trimmed the number of commune-level governments by 76% to 126 communes and wards across the city. 

During the process, the reorganization has left about 11,000 officials, civil servants, public employees, and contract workers redundant.

Recognizing the human impact of these reforms, Hanoi authorities have rolled out a series of measures to support these individuals.

The city has reassigned people to suitable positions where possible, offered and opened vocational training to upgrade their skills, and boosted job matching through regular employment fairs.

Employment service centers have become crucial for Hien and others to find new career paths.

In August, the Hanoi Center for Employment Services under the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs launched daily job fairs at its headquarters.

The center has also hosted themed, mobile, and online sessions connecting job seekers with employers across different provinces and cities.

“For workers affected by the restructuring, we’ve set up dedicated counseling areas at job fairs,” said the center's Deputy Director Vu Quang Thanh.

“We connect them directly with the businesses that are in need of recruits, provide them career guidance, and even recommend short-term training courses before they start new jobs.”

On average, the center organizes hundreds of fairs every year, both online and offline, offering opportunities in many sectors ranging from manufacturing and services to technology and startups.

Supporting career changes

Beyond immediate job placement, Hanoi is investing in long-term solutions to help workers transition into new careers.

Those interested in starting businesses can access loans through the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. Others considering overseas employment are connected to licensed labor export companies.

The displaced workers who want to learn new skills are introduced to vocational training centers. The city has encouraged vocational schools and training institutions to open short-term courses in high-demand fields like information technology, e-commerce, mechanics, logistics, and tourism services, according to Thanh from the center.

This opens the door even for middle-aged workers, giving them the chance to apply for the industries with growing demand.

Do Huong Lan, Director of the Institute for Policy and Management under the VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that job transition means new opportunities for Hien and others like her, rather than losses.

Seeking new jobs at the employment centers and private companies helps public employees and government officials reposition themselves, explore hidden capabilities, and overcome challenges in a bigger environment, she added.

"They get skill training and upgrading to match the requirements of employers. If successful, they will find themselves in a well-designed, sustainable environment that fits their individual competencies."

Hien, like thousands of others, faces the challenge of starting over. With the city’s support mechanisms, from job fairs and retraining to financial assistance, there is hope that her next chapter could be one of renewal rather than loss.

As Hanoi modernizes its administrative system, the true measure of success may not just be a leaner bureaucracy but also how well it helps people like Hien find their footing again.

Hanoi’s action plans to support displaced workers To strengthen the labor market and provide new opportunities for those affected by the city’s administrative restructuring, Hanoi has issued a series of targeted plans. On July 24, the city released Plan No. 199/KH-UBND to support and develop the labor market while promoting employment opportunities across the capital in the second half of the year. On August 1, Plan No. 220/KH-UBND was announced, focusing on training, retraining, and job placement for commune-level officials, public employees, contract workers, and part-time staff who lost their positions following the reorganization of administrative units. The Hanoi Department of Home Affairs introduced Plan No. 4546/KH-SNV on August 8, setting out concrete steps to help redundant workers transition into new roles through training programs, career counseling, and job-matching initiatives.