With its large-scale industrial sector, increasing investment attraction and a series of major infrastructure projects under construction, Dong Nai is facing strong demand for a workforce with solid skills, professional expertise and the ability to master new technologies.
Developing a high-quality workforce is not only a requirement of businesses but also a critical factor determining the pace of local development in the new period.
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| Workers at Topbank Smart Dong Nai (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. in Long Thanh Ward quickly adapt to new technologies. Photo: |
Demand for skilled workers
According to the Dong Nai Employment Service Center, businesses in the city have registered demand for approximately 183,000 workers in 2026. However, the challenge is not simply to meet demand in terms of numbers, but also to improve the quality of the workforce.
At recent job exchange platforms, in addition to recruiting unskilled workers, many businesses have been seeking skilled and highly technical workers, particularly in processing and manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, automation and logistics. Workers are required to be capable of operating modern machinery, read and understand technical drawings, use digital technologies and foreign languages, while also demonstrating industrial discipline and the ability to work according to international production processes and standards.
Tran Thi Thanh Y, Head of Human Resources Department at Sunjin Vina Co., Ltd. in Ho Nai Ward, said that alongside its production expansion plans, the company is recruiting technical personnel for maintenance, automation, mechanical engineering and other specialized positions serving production operations. These positions require not only professional qualifications but also practical experience, the ability to operate machinery and equipment, troubleshoot technical problems and adapt to new technologies. However, skilled technicians with practical experience remain difficult to recruit, she said.
In recent years, many businesses have invested in machinery, automated production lines and technology-based management systems, requiring workers to upgrade their skills. Zeng Ping, head of the technical department at Topbank Smart Dong Nai (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. in Long Thanh Ward, said the company has continuously applied advanced technologies and automation to production to improve productivity and product quality. This has given workers opportunities to gain hands-on experience with modern equipment, machinery and electronic technologies, helping them improve their skills and meet production requirements.
According to businesses, increasing employee benefits alone is not enough to attract workers; the quality of training must also be enhanced. Currently, around 60-70% of graduates in technical fields still lack practical skills, have limited proficiency in specialized foreign languages and are not immediately able to adapt to automated production processes based on ESG standards (environmental, social and corporate governance). Businesses therefore have to spend an additional three to six months of retraining. This poses a challenge for workers as businesses accelerate automation, improve productivity and expand production.
Anticipating workforce demand
The emergence of numerous large-scale projects and infrastructure works is one of the key drivers of demand for high-quality human resources in Dong Nai. The city has issued Plan No. 105/KH-UBND, dated March 3, 2026, on training and developing human resources to meet the requirements of constructing and operating major projects in the locality during the 2026-2030 period. The plan focuses on building and developing a high-quality workforce capable of meeting the operational requirements of major projects and their surrounding economic ecosystems.
As part of the special 500-day-and-night emulation campaign themed “Solidarity - Discipline - Efficiency - Breakthrough, Building a Civilized and Modern Dong Nai,” the Department of Home Affairs is focusing on connecting labor supply and demand, improving the effectiveness of employment counseling and job placement services, and helping businesses recruit suitable workers. The department has instructed the Dong Nai Employment Service Center to work with schools and workers on training, career counseling and vocational orientation to meet local workforce needs.
Long Thanh International Airport is considered one of the projects expected to generate substantial demand for human resources, estimated at around 14,000 workers. This highlights the need to prepare the workforce well in advance, as waiting until the airport begins operations to start training would make it difficult to meet demand in time.
Dong Nai is implementing a human-resource training program for the airport and supporting industries for the 2024-2026 period, with a vision toward 2030. Under the program, the city plans to provide training and job-placement assistance for approximately 4,800 people at Long Thanh International Airport. Transport, aviation and logistics companies are also proactively partnering with training institutions to develop workers in fields including engineering, ground operations and equipment maintenance.
Under the city’s development strategy, vocational education is regarded as an important solution for developing human resources. Dong Nai aims to have at least two high-quality vocational training centers meeting regional and international standards by 2030, while also developing green vocational training models. Several vocational institutions in the city have already introduced training programs meeting international standards, laying the foundation for improving the quality of the technical workforce.
Speaking at a conference on the launch of the national job exchange platform held in Dong Nai in late July, Nguyen Thi Hoang, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the city’s People’s Committee, said that during the 2026-2030 period, Dong Nai aims to create jobs for approximately 500,000 people, increasing the number of employed workers in the economy to around 2.6 million. Achieving this target requires close coordination among state management agencies, businesses, vocational education institutions and other relevant organizations, she stressed.
In recent years, many businesses have proactively partnered with vocational education institutions to provide training, gradually aligning curricula with the actual needs of the labor market. Businesses accept students for internships and recruit suitable candidates after graduation.
According to Mai Xuan Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Home Affairs, the Resolution of the Dong Nai City Party Congress sets a target of approximately 2.6 million workers by 2030. This is an ambitious target that places significant demands on forecasting, managing and developing the labor market. State management agencies, departments, sectors and local authorities need to proactively advise on and implement coordinated solutions in labor, employment, training and workforce quality improvement.
By Nguyen Hoa - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha
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