Businesses operating throughout Vietnam have faced labor shortage since the beginning of the year when labor market supply fell short of demand.
Demand for labor has grown dramatically. It is estimated to be 20 per cent higher than in the first quarter last year.
The fact is that all occupations are in dire need of new employees. Moreover, some industrial production sectors, such as the garment, footwear, and timber sectors which often recruit a large number of employees, have developed strongly in recent years, causing the labor market to become more and more stretched.
The demand for more labor from companies in the garment, footwear, timber and seafood sectors has risen sharply after the traditional Lunar New Year festival (Tet).
At recruitment centers, vacancy lists are getting ever longer. Around industrial parks in southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces, Ho Chi Minh City and along highways to industrial parks, it is easy to find information about labor recruitment.
Apart from official payment, employers also make public bonuses, pay travel assistance fees and provide many other incentives to attract labor.
Many occupations for non-professionals are also looking for employees. A recruitment center of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union says there are many jobs available for office staff, engineers, technicians, and accountants. Position salaries vary from VND1.5 million (US$93.75) to VND3 million (US$187.5).
Head of the Employment Center for young people Nguyen Van Sang said fluctuations in the labor market early this year can be attributed to different laborer allocation through time and industry restructuring.
Previously, the garment and footwear sectors attracted a lot of workers. Now, the service and trade sectors have developed strongly, attracting many employees from other industries. With the development of the national economy, all industries have tended to expand production, so there are large demands for labor.
Some want to quit their current jobs, as they are weary of the working environment, while others cannot stand the pressure of work. However, salary is an important issue, as workers always want to seek high-income jobs.
The number of people of working age increases every year but there is still a shortage of labor, Sang said, adding that a large number of laborers are available but most fail to meet enterprises strict requirements.
The situation is a warning for concerned agencies, which must actively join hands to deal with the situation.
Vietnam now has around 44.4 million people of working age. Of the total workforce, laborers in the State-owned sector account for 9.6 per cent, those in the non-state-run sector made up 88.8 per cent, and 1.6 per cent in the foreign-invested sector. (VOVNews, Vietnam Panorama)
Vietnamese
