Title: Cultural Festivals as Drivers of Youth Employment and Sustainable Development: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam
Authors: Uyen Thanh LE
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: 134-147
Publication Date: 2025/09/28
Abstract:
This study investigates the complex relationship between cultural festival participation, youth employment outcomes, and sustainable development goal achievement within the Vietnamese socio-economic context. Drawing upon social capital theory and human capital development frameworks, the research examines how traditional cultural festivals function as catalytic mechanisms for youth employment generation whilst simultaneously contributing to broader sustainable development objectives. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining structural equation modelling (SEM) using partial least squares (PLS) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the study analysed data from 487 Vietnamese youth participants across twelve provinces. The findings reveal that cultural festival participation significantly enhances youth employability through three primary pathways: skill development acquisition, social network expansion, and entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. The analysis demonstrates that festival engagement exhibits a positive correlation with sustainable development indicators, particularly in areas of cultural preservation, community cohesion, and economic sustainability. The research contributes to the existing literature by proposing an integrated theoretical framework that bridges cultural participation theories with sustainable development paradigms. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting policy interventions that leverage cultural assets for youth employment creation whilst advancing sustainable development agenda in emerging economies.