1. Improve experience, connect and retain talent
The top priority of the HR department in 2026 is how to "Enhance experience - Connect - Retain talent".
If previously, HR mainly focused on traditional engagement activities, then 2026 requires a completely new approach: optimizing employee experience through each important moment throughout the personnel lifecycle. When cared for throughout, employees' positive experiences not only significantly reduce the rate of absenteeism but also directly improve their productivity, engagement and level of contribution to business goals.
2. Review the overall policy of Rewarding and applying new methods
In the context that businesses set a goal of both increasing revenue and optimizing costs, optimizing efficiency through reviewing reward policies and applying new methods continues to be in the top priorities.
3. Recruiting and attracting talent at a reasonable cost
Vietnamese businesses after streamlining not only reduce costs but also have to recruit correctly - successfully - quickly but still ensure optimal budget.
In 2026, recruitment is no longer a race to "pay higher", but a competition for efficiency, where businesses know how to use resources most intelligently will be the winner in the talent battle.
4. Restructure and streamline the organization to be more flexible and effective
39% of businesses choosing to restructure and streamline their organizations to be more flexible and efficient are among the top 5 personnel orientation in 2026.
This reality shows that streamlining is no longer an option, but a survival reflex of the organization in a context of constant fluctuations.
However, streamlining in the true sense is not just cutting personnel, reallocating resources or consolidating departments. Simplify is rebuilding operating models, optimizing processes, applying technology to accelerate decision-making and ensure resources are concentrated in the right places to create value.
5. Developing leadership capacity in the context of the new generation labor force
Leadership capacity development continues to hold an important position, especially in the context that Gen Z and the labor force are increasingly dominant. Gen Z carries expectations of transparency, continuous feedback, and meaningful work purposes, requiring leadership style to change.
6. Developing corporate culture as an "operating system
Corporate culture is considered an "operating system" that helps organizations operate smoothly and consistently in all fluctuations. Corporate culture is always the foundation for cohesion and sustainable efficiency.
HR ensures that corporate culture is integrated into all personnel processes, from recruitment, training to development and retaining talent.
7. APPLYING AI in HR work
The explosion of AI has made this technology application not only a support tool but also a game-changing factor in HR.
HR must identify highly repetitive processes (administrative, basic recruitment...) to test and deploy AI, helping HR teams focus on strategic tasks.
8. Strengthening digital transformation in human resource management
Digital transformation is still the top priority, focusing on transforming the entire human resource process from manual to automated and integrated on a digital platform.
9. Digitalizing administrative work to free up HR time
This orientation is the direct result of strengthening digital transformation in human resource management. By digitizing and automating repetitive administrative tasks (document management, timekeeping, salary calculation, electronic contract signing...), HR teams can be "liberated".
10. Focus on building and developing a successor team
This is always a core factor to ensure the stability and long-term growth of the business while protecting the survival of the business: After the restructuring phase, ensuring that there are enough talents ready to fill key positions, especially middle and senior leaders, becomes more urgent than ever.
HR will closely link personal development plans with the development roadmap of the successor team, ensuring the sustainability of resources.
