The Workplace Crisis of 40-Year-Old Women and How to Overcome It

The number of older female workers losing their jobs is increasing day by day, while their chances of finding a new job are almost gone. Protecting the rights of female workers when they turn 40 is an issue that needs to be raised when businesses refuse to recruit them. While their retirement age has not yet come, many people fall into a helpless situation.

1.  Unemployment and the Struggles of Older Women

Reality shows that when businesses encounter difficulties and are forced to narrow production and cut labor, the first target groups are female workers aged 40 and over. Leaving the factory at an older age, most of the women are unable to find a new job and fall into unemployment. Difficulties pile up because they have to support their families day to day.

At the recent workshop "The Problem of Job Training for Middle-Aged Women," a representative of the Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City said that the city is one of the localities with the largest labor force in the country. Statistics for 2023 show that Ho Chi Minh City has over 4.7 million workers in all economic sectors, of which women account for over 46%. Of the 164,929 cases receiving unemployment benefits from the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center, 56.3% are women. The number of female workers over 40 years old who lost their jobs accounted for 27.5% of the total number of unemployed female workers.
 

Aging women in the workforce face a crisis of confidence

Having stuck with their profession for many years, older female workers are suddenly "going out" and struggling to make a living. Many people have to sit at home hoping to be called back to work by the company. But with no savings and family life forced, they have to take on many different jobs, such as cleaning houses, taking care of seriously ill people, and selling vegetables and fish at the "squat" market. You get whatever you earn. The few women who are more active rock hammocks to lull their babies while livestreaming sales, closing orders, and also working as shippers.

Of course, neither businesses nor older female workers want that. But unfortunately, reality is still reality. So what should be done to help them stabilize their lives soon?

2.  Solutions and Support for Middle-Aged Female Workers

A survey shows that the number of people withdrawing one-time social insurance each year is always higher than the previous year, with an average annual growth rate of about 10%. Sixty-seven percent of people receiving one-time social insurance have paid less than five years, with an average age of 31.7 years old; nearly 10% are people who have paid social insurance for 10 years or more, with an average age of 42 years old.

Many opinions expressed concern that the retirement age is high, but there are no regulations to protect older workers. When workers turn 40 or 50 years old, it is also time for businesses to find ways to fire them. If you don't have a job, where will you get the money to continue paying insurance until you retire?
 

Midlife Crisis in Women: Warning Signs, Causes & How to Get Help

Creating jobs for older female workers who have lost their jobs is an urgent social issue, as they fall into the situation of "retirement age has not yet arrived, career age is over." According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duc Loc, Director of the Institute of Social Life, there is currently a large gap between professional age and retirement age. As the age of workers increases, job opportunities become narrower. Especially for workers working on production lines in factories that only know one step, they cannot complete a complete product, so it is very difficult for them to start a new job when they have to "go out."

“When they lose their jobs, it is difficult for older workers to find new jobs. Therefore, there needs to be a sustainable training and welfare policy for them," Mr. Loc said.

In addition to the fact that female workers, after losing their jobs, are entitled to certain material benefits, many opinions say that the Women's Union and Trade Union need to set up a loan fund with preferential interest rates for a certain period of time, so that they can "start a business" even if it's very late. When they cannot stay in the city and have to return to their hometown where they left, the local government needs to have practical support policies. Not only so that women can reintegrate, but more fundamentally, it also gives them a fulcrum to overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.

It's time to have a policy for older female workers who lose their jobs. Hopefully, through the above sharing from Faro Vietnam, you can easily overcome the midlife crisis in your career.

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