Young professionals delay marriage, prioritize financial stability

The 27-year-old from Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, thus has little time for personal life. Her typical day runs from 8 am to 9 or 10 pm, often later and even overnight in office. Despite earning VND20 million (US$795) a month plus decent benefits, her demanding schedule leaves her with just four or five hours of sleep a night.

She says: “If I have any spare time, I use it to rest. I simply don’t have the energy for blind dates or romancing.”

Her parents have told her to consider a less demanding job with a lower salary but more time for family. But she prioritizes career advancement and financial stability, viewing relationships and marriage as secondary because they are “a waste of time and too much hassle.”

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan proposed reducing working hours to give men and women more time to find a partner at the Workshop on Contributing Ideas and Perfecting Policies in the Population Law, and Proposing Demographic Transition Policies for Asia-Pacific Economies in Hanoi on August 6.

While this proposal gives hope to Kim’s parents, she remains skeptical. If Nhan’s proposal comes to fruition, she plans to use any extra time to rest or pursue business ventures since reduced hours might lead to a cut in salary. “I want to make the most of my youth to experience and enjoy life so that I don’t regret it later. Everyone will settle down eventually; it’s just a matter of time.”

Anh Kim intends to spend her free time resting and focusing on self-improvement to boost her income, rather than seeking a life partner. Photo courtesy of Kim

Khanh Hoang, 30, an IT professional living in HCMC’s District 3, echoes similar sentiments. Rising rent and living costs and lower wages make earning money a necessity, making finding a partner a lower priority, he says. “My financial situation doesn’t allow for extra expenses related to a relationship or marriage.”

He plans to delay marriage until he buys a home and can afford his child’s education and a stable standard of living for his family. His decision to work two jobs to earn VND30 million a month reflects his financial priorities.

Kim and Hoang are among the 13% of over 110,000 respondents who found the proposal to reduce working hours to enhance personal life “unrealistic” in a VnExpress survey done on Aug.7.

Psychologist Dao Le Tam An of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education says delaying relationships and marriage is understandable for some young people.

Factors such as career focus, a desire for freedom, financial insecurity, and the inability to buy a home are causes, he adds.

Pham Chanh Trung, head of the HCMC Population and Family Planning Department, says more people are choosing to remain single due to financial constraints and career goals. He agrees that Nhan’s proposal will address the declining birth rate and increasing marriage age in Vietnam, and reducing working hours will contribute to better physical and mental health.

The Department of Labour Safety said in 2019 that Vietnam had some of the highest working hours in Southeast Asia and few public holidays. Vietnamese workers worked 440 more hours annually than Indonesians, 184 more than Cambodians and 176 more than Singaporeans, it said.

While acknowledging the need for measures to boost population growth, Associate Professor Bui Thi An, president of the Hanoi Association of Intellectual Women, points out reducing working hours might be challenging in the current economic situation.

“Reducing working hours could potentially boost marriage and birth rates but must be part of a comprehensive approach, including economic development, improved maternity benefits, and better education and healthcare for workers.”

Kim says she will consider marriage if she or her partner have a stable income, career advancement opportunities and home ownership. Without these, she prefers to delay starting a family to avoid financial instability and ensure her children’s well-being. “If basic needs aren’t met, how can I think about personal happiness?”

Dao Le Tam An also fears that reducing working hours might lead some to work harder in their remaining time to achieve financial stability.

“Without a balanced solution that maintains incomes while reducing working hours, addressing young people’s concerns will be challenging.”

Associate Professor Do Minh Cuong, deputy director of the Business Culture Institute, attributes this to insufficient wages, which forces workers to take on additional jobs.

A survey by the Vietnam Trade Union Institute in August 2023 found that the average worker’s monthly expenditure is VND11.7 million and their income is VND7.88 million.

It noted: “Only 24.5% of surveyed workers reported that their income just barely covers living expenses, with many struggling to make ends meet. Many have to take on extra work outside of their primary jobs.”

Hoang, the IT professional, would increase his part-time work to four jobs if hours are reduced in his main job. He says he will only marry when his career is stable and his finances are secure. “Marrying early might please parents and avoid a scenario of being an elderly parent with young children, but I cannot endure frugal living due to financial instability.