Gen Z job-hops because land prices soar 400-fold, salaries only 20 times

"I think the reality is that Vietnam’s job market is lagging behind the advanced education that Gen Z has received. In other words, they are more individualistic and shrewder.

Why should they be loyal, work long-term, and dedicate themselves to a company where they can clearly see their salary for the next 30 years through their colleagues? They are young, energetic, and have the right to dream. Hence, they are not afraid to job-hop. Previous generations should understand that many people in society chase success and wealth rather than just making ends meet.

Therefore, businesses must also reflect on themselves to adapt accordingly. The fact that Gen Z can switch jobs frequently indicates that there are many companies with better ethics and higher standards than their current employer. Everyone must look out for themselves first. A good recruiter must be skillful in selecting and effectively utilizing employees."

The story above was shared by reader Phan in the comment section of an article about how businesses are making efforts to retain Gen Z workers, seeing as their average tenure with a company is only 2.2 years.

Other readers also chimed in with their opinions:

Reader lykimthang22:

"The younger generation has a different mindset more suited to the current economic and social environment. Twenty to thirty years ago, people hoped to find a good company and stay with it for most of their life since salaries used to increase based on seniority.

But this mindset has changed as, over the last 30 years, land prices have increased 400-fold, while salaries have only grown 20 times. If they still held the mindset of the 80s and 90s generations, Gen Z would never be able to settle down even if they worked their entire lives. Moreover, businesses prefer younger workers and often lay off those just over 30.

When the young generation seeks income and work-life balance, they obviously will not choose companies that abuse unpaid overtime. Additionally, there are many career opportunities for dynamic young people who know how to create a personal brand. Social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have significantly reduced marketing costs for individuals. Nowadays, a KOL (Key Opinion Leader) with a million followers can overshadow a small marketing company with dozens of employees.

Since there are jobs available with more comfortable working hours and limitless development potential, there is no reason to stay confined to one place for years."

Reader Nguyen Van Canh:

"Many businesses criticize Gen Z for being fragile, lazy, and hesitant to work hard. Meanwhile, Generation Y, born in the 80s, is criticized for being old, difficult to manage, and hard to adapt, even though they are only in their 30s—still young, healthy, hardworking, and experienced.

People are not perfect, and neither are companies. So why do employers demand that their workers be low-paid yet highly skilled, capable of multitasking, complaint-free, and willing to dedicate their lives to the company?

Many foreign companies offer training, incentives, and stocks to motivate their employees. But in Vietnam, many places prefer ready-made talent and are reluctant to provide training.

Workers should also reflect on themselves and constantly update and improve their knowledge. Regarding health, many in their 20s indulge too much in milk tea and beer while neglecting sports and physical activity. Hence, a lot of them experience signs of aging in their 30s, work less efficiently and do not improve their skills. It is understandable why business owners or managers would be frustrated with them."

So what is your viewpoint on this matter?

*These comments were translated into English by AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.