An air conditioner production line at the Japanese-invested Daikin Vietnam Factory in Thăng Long II Industrial Park, Mỹ Hào District, Hưng Yên Province. VNA/VNS Photo Lương Hiếu

HƯNG YÊN — Many businesses in Hưng Yên Province are facing an acute shortage of skilled labour, a challenge that threatens to affect productivity and efficiency as the province continues to attract major waves of investment from domestic and international corporations, bringing with them demand for thousands of new jobs.

Hưng Yên has a population of around 3.4 million, with 54 per cent of residents of working age. This is a valuable resource for socio-economic development. However, the province’s trained labour rate is only about 80 per cent, and just over 27.5 per cent hold formal qualifications or professional certificates.

The challenge is especially pressing in industries requiring skilled labour for new and emerging occupations. At Shindengen Vietnam Co., Ltd., located in Thăng Long II Industrial Park, the recruitment of workers with foreign language ability and advanced technical skills has been difficult. Although the company regularly posts job openings, the number of applicants remains limited, and many do not meet the technical requirements.

Lotes Vietnam Co., Ltd., based in Liên Hà Thái Industrial Park and specialising in electronic components, is facing a similar situation. The company currently needs about 1,000 skilled workers for technical positions like machining, stamping, plastic moulding and electroplating. Despite offering a wide range of incentives, including meal subsidies, shuttle bus services, dormitory support and even housing assistance, its labour shortage remains unresolved.

The lack of vocationally trained workers has become a headache for many enterprises, particularly in manufacturing, technology, construction and technical services. According to Tăng Quốc Sử, Deputy Head of the Labour and Employment Division under the provincial Department of Home Affairs, the main reason is that vocational training programmes have not kept pace with the real demands of businesses, resulting in a mismatch between graduates’ skills and labour market needs.

Low wages are another factor. Many skilled workers choose to work in areas offering higher salaries, while some businesses have yet to implement effective policies to attract and retain talent, leading to frequent job-hopping. Furthermore, rapid technological advances are changing skill requirements across industries, leaving workers struggling to adapt.

To address the issue, company representatives said they have partnered with universities and colleges within and outside the province to jointly train and recruit graduates. Businesses are calling on the provincial authorities to provide more support and strengthen links between vocational training and enterprises to meet labour demand.

Vocational schools are also working to improve training quality to match learner needs, business requirements and labour market trends. Đặng Nguyên Mạnh, the principal of Thái Bình Vocational College, said the school is focused on upgrading teacher qualifications, revising training programmes and teaching materials, and implementing cooperative training programmes with businesses to improve the effectiveness of vocational education.

Hưng Yên Industrial College reported it is currently collaborating with more than 20 companies to provide training, job placement and a skilled labour pipeline. The college has also revised several course modules to better align with industry requirements. The new curriculum aims to equip students with adaptive skills to meet technological change and career transitions.

Principal Nguyễn Khắc Ngọc added that the school has held numerous conferences on demand-driven training and on building stronger links between schools and businesses.

“We regularly meet with enterprises to understand their labour needs and expectations for workforce quality,” he said. —VNS