A survey conducted by Vieclam24h with nearly 3,000 people (nearly 2,000 employees and nearly 1,000 businesses) shows that the labor market recovers slowly and selectively. Accordingly, despite much pressure, Vietnamese enterprises still strive to maintain operations and workforce. In the past 12 months (quarter II of 2024 to quarter II of 2025), 26.4% of enterprises have streamlined their apparatus, mainly in the retail, manufacturing, real estate and construction sectors.
According to the survey, in the last 6 months of 2025, 56.2% of enterprises said they will expand the scale of human resources in a more careful and selective direction. The company focuses on recruiting personnel in the business - sales sector (54%), production engineers (23%) and skilled unskilled workers (20%). In contrast, the demand for new graduates and senior management levels is still quite low. This data shows that the market has not recovered evenly but is still in the "people's increase" phase, prioritizing groups that can create real value in the short term.
On the labor side, workers have shown a positive spirit and outstanding adaptation compared to the general trend in the world. More than 70% of survey participants have experienced negative emotions when fired such as financial anxiety, shock or loss of spirit; nearly 30% see this as an opportunity for change or feel released.
Vieclam24h also advises that for businesses, it is necessary to consider the long-term consequences before deciding to cut, be transparent and straightforward, rebuild trust by listening and communicating, updating and optimizing recruitment strategies to suit the expectations of employees, investing in training and skills development, and applying smart technology to increase productivity and reduce pressure on retained employees.
For workers, it is advisable to maintain flexible thinking and be ready to adapt, invest in continuous skill development (especially sustainable and unustainable skills), proactively build personal brands, not let anxiety dominate decisions. Carefully study businesses and markets, adjust actual financial expectations and make the most of job search tools.
