The first quarter of 2026 recorded a positive trend in labor market stability, with the employed workforce reaching 52.7 million people. This figure reflects a significant increase of 688,000 workers compared to the same period in the previous year. Beyond the expansion of the workforce, income levels also showed improvement, with the average wage increasing by 7.3% to 10 million VND per month.
Shifts in the structure of the labor force represent a phenomenon worthy of attention. The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors experienced a decline in labor absorption, whereas the industrial, construction, and service sectors showed rapid growth. Although the unemployment rate remains low at 2.22%, the latent threat of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to overshadow the prospects of traditional jobs.
According to a survey by Navigos Group, job roles that are administrative, repetitive, and manual—such as data entry clerks, bank tellers, and telemarketers—are at high risk of shrinking within the next 3 to 5 years. Algorithmic automation not only changes company operations but also significantly reduces workers' bargaining power if they lack skills capable of competing with machines.
Responding to this phenomenon, experts emphasize the importance of a proactive response from various stakeholders. Vu Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center, urged workers not to view AI as a threat, but rather as a catalyst to enhance their own capabilities. Collaboration between academia and industry is a vital key to aligning curricula with future digital demands.
On the other hand, economist Dr. Nguyen Minh Phong emphasized that despite the risk of old professions disappearing, technological disruption will also give rise to new job fields. He encouraged the government to update labor regulations to support retraining programs, ensuring that career transitions for affected workers can proceed more smoothly and be legally protected.
