A World of Opportunities Awaits.

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of June 2024, the country’s total employed workforce stood at 51.4 million, an increase of 195,700 individuals compared to the same period last year. With signs of order recovery, the demand for labor in various localities has surged, especially in the key economic regions of the South.

Large-Scale Recruitment Efforts

As per the Ho Chi Minh City Forecasting and Labor Market Information Center (FALMI), the city will require an additional 153,500–161,500 workers in the second half of 2024. Enterprises in the trade and services sector are looking to hire 102,000–108,000 people (accounting for nearly 67% of the city’s total labor demand). Meanwhile, the industry and construction sector seeks to fill 50,700–53,300 positions (constituting over 33% of the total demand).

In the southern province of Dong Nai, over 2,000 enterprises are seeking to recruit more than 70,000 workers. TKG Taekwang Vina JSC, located in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, is looking to hire 5,000 workers. Vision International Company Limited, a manufacturer of golf clubs, aims to employ 1,000 workers, while Fashion Garments 2 Company Limited needs to fill 500 positions. Mr. Le Duy Hoang, Head of Recruitment at TKG Taekwang Vina JSC, shared that the company is currently offering new employees a support package worth 7.2 million VND over two years, along with six months of rent allowance (600,000 VND per month) for those from 20 distant provinces and cities.

On the other hand, the Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province, which is slated to commence operations in 2026, is expected to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of cargo annually during its first phase. According to the Vietnam Aviation Authority, this airport will require approximately 14,000 workers with varying educational backgrounds and skill levels, ranging from high school graduates to university and post-graduate degree holders.

Mr. Pham Van Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in Binh Duong province, revealed that a survey among key industrial manufacturing associations and enterprises in the province, including those in wood processing, footwear, and garment industries, indicated a substantial demand for labor. From now until the end of the year, Binh Duong province is projected to need around 20,000–25,000 workers, primarily unskilled laborers, with skilled workers accounting for about 80% and the remaining 20% requiring specialized qualifications.

Data from Adecco Vietnam suggests a rise in recruitment needs for sales and marketing personnel in the industrial sector, as well as experts in manufacturing and supply. Several sectors, such as production and export, have witnessed a slight increase in recruitment demands, approximately 5% compared to the same period last year. TopCV, a specialized recruitment website, recorded 15,571 job openings requiring trained personnel in Ho Chi Minh City as of July 8, 2024.

Adapting Recruitment Strategies

To expand its production and business operations, Dai Hoa Limited Company in Tan Uyen district, Binh Duong province, aims to recruit 700 workers. So far this year, the company has successfully hired more than 600 individuals, a number that many enterprises in Binh Duong can only dream of.

Ms. Nguyen Phuc Hau, Head of Human Resources at Dai Hoa Limited Company, attributed this success to a shift in recruitment strategies. While traditional recruitment methods involved posting notices at the company’s entrance or setting up tables and chairs on the street to attract potential candidates, the company now utilizes platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Google Ads to reach a wider audience. “Adopting modern recruitment methods, especially through social media, has yielded positive results,” Ms. Hau remarked.

In another development, the Vietnam Airports Corporation (ACV), Saigon Ground Services JSC (SAGS), and Lilama 2 International Technology College signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Long Thanh district to foster collaboration in training a skilled workforce for the upcoming Long Thanh airport. Mr. Dang Tuan Tu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAGS, stated that the partnership would focus on three main areas, including aviation human resource development.

Previously, Lilama 2 International Technology College had entered into a cooperation agreement with VietJet Aviation Academy to train personnel in aircraft maintenance and repair, flight operations and dispatch, aircraft equipment control and operation in restricted areas of airports and airfields, and ground handling services.

Mr. Nong Van Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs in Dong Nai province, emphasized the importance of connecting labor supply and demand. To that end, the Dong Nai Center for Employment Services is collaborating with 18 provincial employment service centers to exchange solutions for supporting labor connections within the region and meeting the recruitment needs of enterprises. Additionally, enterprises should focus on long-term welfare policies and stable salary schemes to retain employees.

Bridging the Gap Between Supply and Demand

Mr. Le Van Thinh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, acknowledged that the city boasts a youthful and dynamic workforce across diverse industries. With enterprises increasingly demanding higher qualifications, skills, and degrees, the city’s labor force has a competitive edge over other localities in terms of educational attainment. The quality of labor has been steadily improving over the years, and the proportion of trained workers (including those with and without certificates) is among the highest in the country.

However, there remains a significant skill gap among workers. The current labor force fails to meet the evolving demands and technological advancements. “Ho Chi Minh City does not lack labor, but there is a mismatch between the available workforce and the industries targeted for development, coupled with a shortage of high-quality human resources in key sectors,” Mr. Thinh observed.

Ms. Hoang Thi Minh Ngoc, Director of the recruitment website “Viec Lam Tot” (Good Jobs) in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between labor supply and demand. Many job seekers struggle to access legitimate recruitment channels, despite the abundance of suitable job opportunities. Conversely, enterprises often rely on their HR departments to handle recruitment, limiting their options.

Another concern is the prevalence of “fake jobs,” where recruitment platforms post vacancies without verifying whether the positions have been filled or not, leaving job seekers in the dark. “From the perspective of an online recruitment platform, we notice a growing preference for online recruitment among both job seekers and employers. Therefore, it is crucial to establish professional online platforms that facilitate swift and reliable connections, becoming trusted destinations for both parties,” Ms. Ngoc asserted.