Vietnam, a Top 10 Emerging Logistics Market with over 45,000 companies, is experiencing rapid growth that places enormous pressure on its labor market. As operations become more complex, requiring multimodal transport and digital expertise, the demand for skilled workers is rising sharply.

The Severe Vietnam Human Resource Shortage

Statistics highlight a dual crisis of quantity and quality within the sector:

• Current Workforce: 563,354 workers currently employed in logistics.

• Skills Gap: Only 5%-7% of the workforce has received formal training.

• Future Demand: The industry will need an additional 350,000 workers by 2035, but the market currently meets only $\approx 10\%$ of this demand.

• Internal Reliance: 85.7% of firms are forced to train employees internally due to the severe lack of skilled candidates.

Surveys confirm the low quality, showing that 80.26% of workers learn through unstructured on-the-job experience, lacking specialized knowledge in areas like supply chain analytics and digital systems.

Solutions to Strengthen Vietnam’s Human Resources in Logistics

To build a resilient and future-ready workforce, a coordinated strategy involving the government, academia, and businesses is essential:

1. Modernize Education: Update curricula, integrate practical training, and establish long-term industry-academia partnerships.

2. Accelerate Digital Skills: Integrate training in WMS, TMS, ERP systems, Data Analytics, and smart warehousing.

3. Promote International Cooperation: Implement joint training programs, knowledge transfer, and leverage international certifications.

4. Government Policy Support: Implement scholarships, training incentives, and standardized national competency frameworks to ensure workforce stability and competitiveness.

Prioritizing this workforce development is key to strengthening Vietnam’s position in the global supply chain landscape.

Such policies encourage long-term workforce stability and competitiveness.

The Path Forward: Collective Action is Key

The success of the Vietnam Logistics Development Strategy 2025–2035 hinges directly on closing the Logistics Talent Gap. The current skills deficit threatens to cap the sector’s growth potential just as global opportunities expand.

Therefore, every stakeholder must treat Vietnam Human Resource development as an immediate strategic investment, not a cost. By focusing resources on Digital Transformation skills and specialized domain knowledge, Vietnam can transform its labor challenge into a competitive advantage, strengthening its role in the global Supply Chain and securing its spot as a leading logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

To unlock its full potential, Vietnam must prioritize workforce development through modernized training, international cooperation, digital upskilling, and strong policy support. With a coordinated national effort, Vietnam can build a resilient, competent, and future-ready logistics workforce capable of driving sustainable growth and strengthening the country’s position in the global logistics landscape.

Source: VnEconomy

5/12/2025