Retaining workers for the long term

In the early days of 2026, as production and business activities return to their normal pace after the New Year holiday, Dong Nai’s labor market has quickly recorded positive movements. Recruitment activities have become vibrant at many enterprises, demonstrating a clear recovery in production and business operations, as well as growing confidence among the business community in the prospects of the local economy.

In response to the need to ensure production progress and quality to meet orders signed with partners, enterprises have stepped up recruitment efforts, expanding their workforce in both quantity and skill level. According to the Department of Home Affairs, labor demand across the province in the coming period is forecast at around 55,000 workers, ranging from unskilled labor to highly skilled technical workers.

To attract workers, recruitment efforts have seen many innovations in both methods and policies. In addition to traditional recruitment channels, enterprises have intensified the application of digital technology, online recruitment, connections with job service centers and vocational training institutions, and expanded recruitment beyond the province. At the same time, many enterprises have adjusted salary policies, increased starting income levels, and added allowances to enhance competitiveness in attracting labor.

In this context, the Dong Nai Provincial Employment Service Center has continued to play a crucial role as a vital bridge between enterprises and workers. Recently, the center has proactively organized job fairs and promoted career counseling and job placement through multiple channels, both in person and online. These efforts have helped enterprises shorten recruitment time while enabling workers to access transparent job information that matches their qualifications and needs.

The positive signals in the labor market at the beginning of 2026 are particularly meaningful as Dong Nai is implementing the Resolution of the 11th Provincial Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term, which sets a target of 2.6 million people participating in the labor market by 2030. This goal is not only about the quantity of jobs but also about improving workforce quality and building a modern, flexible, and sustainable labor market.

In practice, the most significant challenge today is not simply recruiting enough workers, but retaining them over the long term. As income levels among localities gradually converge, workers are placing increasing emphasis on living conditions, working environments, and social welfare policies.

In light of this, the province needs to continue implementing fundamental and long-term solutions. Foremost among these is accelerating the development of social housing and worker housing, particularly in areas with a high concentration of industrial parks. At the same time, enterprises should be encouraged to improve income levels and develop wage, bonus, and allowance policies tied to productivity and skill.

Alongside economic measures, efforts must also be made to improve the quality of vocational training and strengthen linkages among enterprises, training institutions, and employment service centers to ensure a stable labor supply that meets the demands of the new production phase. Social welfare policies, healthcare, and education for workers’ children must also receive adequate attention to create a solid foundation that enables workers to feel secure, contribute, and remain with Dong Nai over the long term.

The improvement of the labor market in the early days of 2026 is a positive sign, but also a reminder of the need for decisive, coordinated, and sustained action. Only when workers are truly placed at the center of development policies can Dong Nai realize its goal of building a stable, high-quality labor market that meets the demands of rapid and sustainable development in the 2025–2030 period.

By Pham Mai – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho