Continue to Innovate and Develop Vocational Education

In 2024, the implementation of Directive No. 21-CT/TW dated May 4, 2023, issued by the Secretariat, continues to focus on innovating, developing, and improving the quality of vocational education by 2030, with a vision toward 2045…; including the Vocational Training Development Strategy for 2021–2030, the Master Plan for the Vocational Education Network for 2021–2030, and related initiatives. The Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs has cooperated with localities to direct  strengthening communications about vocational education in 2024. It is prioritize to enhance enrollment, especially at college and intermediate levels, alongside high-quality training programs in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips, energy transition, carbon credits, hydrogen energy, logistics, high-speed rail, and tourism. Enhanced connections with businesses are being fostered to integrate training, assess learners, and secure post-training employment, particularly in emerging fields and new proffesional skill areas.

DVET and related agencies are also intensifying vocational training for workers in small and medium enterprises, addressing challenges in vocational education at the sectoral, local, and institutional levels, and reorganizing public vocational institutions. It aims to ensure a rational distribution of industries, skill levels, and regional structures, while standardizing, modernizing, and diversifying the quality of vocational education. These measures aim to provide a skilled workforce to meet national development needs across different phases, focusing on high-skilled labor for critical industries.

Results After a Decade of Vocational Education Law Implementation

After 10 years of implementing the Vocational Education Law, Vietnam has developed a comprehensive vocational education network across the country. Vocational training quality continues to be improved. Statistics reveal that Vietnam ranks among the top four ASEAN countries in vocational education, only backwards compared to Singapore and Indonesia. Vietnam has achieved outstanding results in World Skills ASEAN Competitions. The proportion of trained labor increased from 53.6% in 2016 to 69% in 2024, with the share of labor holding certifications rising from 21.39% to 28.1%. These statistics indicate steady improvement in human resource quality, especially high-quality labor for key sectors. Many industries that previously relied on foreign workers now increasingly utilize skilled Vietnamese labor.

Enhancing Human Resource Quality

Despite these achievements, Vietnam's labor market still faces several challenges. Labor supply quality remains inadequate, falling short of the demands of a modern, flexible, sustainable, and integrated labor market. Currently, around 37.8 million workers lack training beyond elementary levels (only 28.1% of workers are trained and certified).

While employment is on the rise, the labor market’s sustainability is limited, with a large proportion of informal workers. As of the first nine months of 2024, informal laborers number accounted for 64.6%, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the same period last year.To achieve the targets set in the Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021–2030, such as raising the proportion of certified workers to 35–40% by 2030, reducing urban unemployment rate below 4%, agricultural labor to below 20% of the workforce, and maintaining an annual multidimensional poverty reduction rate of over 1% under multi standard poverty, comprehensive solutions are required. These solutions must focus on developing a flexible, modern, efficient, sustainable, and integrated labor market, with an emphasis on sustainable employment and livelihoods.

Key Measures for Development

Key measures include building and improving labor market information systems and labor-employment databases, effectively connecting and balancing labor supply and demand, and encouraging job creation in both public and private sectors. Workers should be supported in seeking and transitioning to suitable jobs that align with their skills and interests. Promoting sustainable employment and efficient labor utilization through various programs, policies, and credit schemes is also essential. 

Moreover, it is crucial to enhance forecasting capabilities for labor demand, vocational training needs in businesses, and the required quantity, quality, and structure of the workforce.