Skilled workers short of demand for logistics

Despite its rapid growth and increased contributions to the country’s socio-economic development, Vietnam’s logistics industry still lacks a skilled workforce.

With average growth of 14-16 per cent and value of some $40-42 billion annually, the logistics industry is seeing among the most rapid and stable growth in Vietnam.

It aims to achieve growth of 15-20 per cent and contribute 8-10 per cent to the country’s GDP by 2025.

“To that end, every aspect of the logistics industry must improve, in which human resources development is of vital significance,” Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Tan Dung told an October 24 international forum entitled “Upskilling the logistics workforce and promoting industry linkages in the digital area”.

Besides priority policies, it is essential to accelerate vocational training and the strong engagement of businesses in the process.

Mr. Dao Trong Do from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said there is a big gap between training fields and actual professions, especially those requiring skilled workers in emerging industries like logistics and semiconductors.

“Only some institutions offer training in logistics or semiconductors but the number of trainees is limited,” he said.

Vietnam ranks among the top 11 emerging logistics markets in the world and fourth in Southeast Asia, according to Agility’s ranking in 2022.