Employers willing to offer higher compensation to candidates with AI-related capacities and digital skills

According to the latest employment survey by ManpowerGroup, a global workforce solutions provider, Viet Nam’s Net Employment Outlook (NEO) index stood at 28% for the third quarter, placing the country third in the Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region and 10th among 42 hiring markets surveyed worldwide for the third quarter of 2026.

Conducted from April 1 to 30, 2026, ManpowerGroup’s Q3/2026 employment outlook surveyed more than 40,500 employers across 42 countries and territories. Among the 265 employers polled in Viet Nam, 49% plan to increase staffing levels in Q3, 27% expect no change, and 21% anticipate workforce reductions.

In Viet Nam, expansion remains the main driver of hiring demand, with technology and IT services leading recruitment needs with a net employment outlook (NEO) of 50%. Notably, the strongest hiring demand was recorded in the southern region (33%) and among medium-sized companies with 50–249 employees (39%).

The survey also finds that the latest hiring trends continue to show strong demand for Q3/2026, albeit with signs of greater caution. Data collected from 265 nationwide employers indicates an adjustment in HR strategy after a period of intensified hiring earlier in the year, as companies gradually shift focus towards cost optimisation and operational efficiency.

Despite adjustments to hiring intentions, Viet Nam remains a market with strong labour demand, with a net employment outlook (NEO) equal to the APME regional average of 28% and two percentage points above the global average (26%).

The survey notes that employers in Viet Nam are taking cautious steps as they balance workforce decisions against pressures from energy costs and global uncertainties, but the overall hiring picture remains positive.

According to Nguyen Thu Trang, Head of Manpower Brand at Manpower Viet Nam, employers are currently focusing on recruiting core roles and skills that directly optimise productivity, increase competitiveness, and serve long-term development objectives.

The survey also records that Viet Nam’s strong digital transformation efforts are driving companies to strengthen internal capabilities and increase demand for specialised personnel. The trade and logistics sectors also registered growth, reflecting Viet Nam’s growing importance in regional supply chains.

It must be acknowledged that artificial intelligence (AI) and skills development are becoming the new formula for productivity growth. According to the survey, AI is gradually reshaping how organisations manage personnel and productivity.

However, the Q3 data indicates that rather than relying entirely on AI, employers in Viet Nam are proactively building flexible HR strategies that harmonise technology with the human element.

Around 70–75% of employers in Viet Nam believe AI tools and skills-upgrading activities — including general capability development and specialised AI training — were the key drivers helping their organisations raise labour productivity in 2025. Although AI is becoming more widely applied, the human factor in recruitment remains central.

In Viet Nam, 63% of businesses value employers personally reviewing applications while candidates use AI tools for job searching. This suggests the market is becoming more flexible in recruitment strategies, leveraging both human and machine strengths.

52% of employers in Viet Nam value the role of recruitment and staffing firms in accessing high-quality talent and increasing flexibility in workforce structures amid an increasingly complex labour market.

Moreover, employers are seeking candidates with AI literacy, digital skills, and adaptability in line with accelerating digital transformation; employers in Viet Nam are willing to pay a premium to attract talent capable of meeting future changes.

Employers do not see AI as a substitute for traditional competencies but as a complement to them. Demand is rising for workers who not only possess technical or customer-facing skills, but also have the adaptability, willingness to learn, and ability to work effectively with emerging technologies.

Nguyen Thu Trang, Head of Manpower Brand at Manpower Viet Nam

The survey also shows AI literacy is currently the most sought-after specialised skill. 83% of employers in Viet Nam said they are willing to offer higher compensation to candidates with AI knowledge and the ability to apply it effectively in the workplace, especially employers in the southern region (88%).

Other skills employers value include customer service (80%); IT and data (80%); business and marketing (77%); and AI model development and applications (75%).

Beyond technical expertise, employers also emphasise digital capability, adaptability, and a capacity to learn. The proportion of employers prepared to offer higher compensation for candidates possessing these soft skills in Viet Nam is higher than the APME regional average, underscoring the importance of resilience and learning agility in a constantly changing labour market.

Employers do not see AI as a substitute for traditional competencies but as a complement to them, Trang noted, adding that demand is rising for workers who not only possess technical or customer-facing skills, but also have the adaptability, willingness to learn, and ability to work effectively with emerging technologies.

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