Ho Chi Minh City faces major labor shortages in construction and tourism

Ho Chi Minh City is facing significant labor shortages across several key sectors, including construction, tourism, and technical industries. In the construction sector, the simultaneous launch of multiple large-scale public investment projects has created a demand for over 150,000 workers. Challenges include the physically demanding nature of the work and a trend where manual laborers prefer short-term, piece-rate tasks over long-term contracts.

The hospitality and tourism industry is also struggling, with nearly 90% of surveyed businesses reporting staffing needs. Housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance are identified as the most difficult roles to fill. Experts note a significant gap between training capacity and industry demand; while the sector may require up to 28,000 new workers annually to meet 2030 growth targets, current training institutions only produce approximately 5,000 to 6,000 graduates per year.

Data from August shows a broader imbalance in the labor market. While total job openings exceeded the number of job seekers by over 31%, there is a mismatch in skill levels and sectors. High demand exists for machine operators, technical workers, and those in the garment and footwear industries, whereas sectors like accounting and hospitality face higher competition for available roles.