Low birth rate, population deficit
Accordingly, the Mekong Delta (Mekong Delta) along with the Southeast region (Southeast region) are the two regions with the lowest birth rates in the country and have now decreased sharply, only about 1.6; lower than the replacement birth rate of 2.1 children/woman.
In the past two decades, the Mekong Delta region has continuously recorded a negative net immigration rate and is significantly lower than other economic regions. After the administrative boundaries were adjusted without Long An, all 5 new localities of the Mekong Delta faced a population deficit due to migration.
The shortage of young labor along with population aging in the future not only erodes competitive advantages, but also puts heavy pressure on the regional social security system and long-term economic growth momentum.
This report also analyzes that the urbanization process of the Mekong Delta is also sluggish. By 2024, the urbanization rate of the whole region will only reach 29%, much lower than the national average of 38%.
Although Can Tho City reached 47% and An Giang 34%, the urbanization rate of all 5 new localities is lower than the national average.
The combination of pure negative migration, slow urbanization and low birth rates is creating major barriers to investment attraction, labor structure shifts and the formation of dynamic economic growth poles for the entire region" - the report stated.
Trained workers
After the merger, the labor force size of the Mekong Delta recorded a decrease of about 1 million people. As of 2024, the regional labor force reached 8.5 million people, maintaining an average position compared to other economic regions across the country.
The rate of trained workers in the Mekong Delta is still the lowest in the country and has a large gap compared to other economic regions. As of 2024, this rate is only 16.3%.
This situation reflects limitations in access to vocational education and in-depth training, causing difficulties for the goal of economic restructuring to high-tech industries, deep processing and value-added services.
Analysis from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), prolonged unemployment and unemployment are the key reasons driving the wave of migration in the Mekong Delta for many years. This consequence, combined with the continuous decline in birth rates, is pushing the region to face the risk of gradually losing its advantage in human resources.
Link to synchronize
VCCI has developed a group of key solutions recommended to the Central Government, localities, communities and business associations, to solve the economic development problem in the Mekong Delta.
In which, for human resources, provinces need to link universities, vocational schools, chain-leading enterprises and industry associations to train practical needs.
Training should not only stop at general skills, but should focus on small business administration, logistics operation, food safety, export standards, traceability, e-commerce, management accounting, quality management, automation and green transformation.
Without this new labor force, the Mekong Delta will find it difficult to attract high-value-added industries and difficult to retain young people.
The National Assembly has passed the Population Law, which takes effect from July 1, 2026. The Law prioritizes communication, mobilization, and education on contents such as encouraging marriage and childbirth to maintain the replacement fertility rate.
