The Department of Employment (Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs) has warned that the labor market in 2025 could see a surge in job losses among unskilled workers, along with declining wages.

High demand for technology-driven jobs

According to Vu Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center, hiring demand in 2025 will focus on sectors such as technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation.

As more businesses accelerate technological upgrades and integrate AI and automation into operations, the demand for skilled professionals in digital technology, environmental management, and corporate governance will rise.

Additionally, there will be strong recruitment needs in industries such as manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics, high-quality agriculture, healthcare, and medical services. These fields offer promising job opportunities with attractive benefits.

In 2025, Hanoi will prioritize high-tech industries, green technology, and value-added services. Infrastructure reforms, particularly in transportation, coupled with improvements in capital markets and tax incentives for innovation, will be key drivers of economic growth.

Labor market outlook for 2025

Thanh noted that Hanoi’s economy is expected to continue its positive growth trend in February 2025, building on strong results from January and the year’s economic targets.

However, challenges such as slow recoveries in major global economies, persistently high inflation in several countries, and recent U.S. tariff policy changes could negatively impact Vietnam’s economic growth.

To stabilize business operations, many companies in Hanoi are actively recruiting workers. Some sectors expected to see increased hiring include:

Manufacturing (+4.5%)

Healthcare and medical services (+4.0%)

Scientific research and information technology (+4.2%)

Despite these positive trends, Vietnam still faces a shortage of highly skilled workers in emerging fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, logistics, and IT.

According to the Department of Employment, while Vietnam remains a top destination for foreign investment in the region, economic restructuring and rapid technological advancements could lead to higher unemployment rates among unskilled workers and declining wages.

As businesses shift toward automation and AI-driven production models, unskilled workers may struggle to find jobs, leading to a potential decline in the overall labor force.

"The biggest challenge is that many workers lack the ability to transition to new careers due to limited access to labor market information. Additionally, their skills and qualifications do not meet the changing demands of the job market," a representative from the Department of Employment stated.

Vu Diep