Hanoi employers compete for skilled workers as year-end recruitment surges

Hanoi enters the final month of 2025 with a sharp rise in recruitment as businesses rush to secure labor for Christmas and the 2026 Lunar New Year production cycle. The Hanoi Employment Service Center is expanding job-matching efforts to connect more workers with employers facing urgent hiring needs.

Skilled hands on workers take priority

As the year draws to a close, labor demand is climbing quickly, said Vu Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center under the municipal Department of Home Affairs.

Thanh said enterprises across the city are seeking large numbers of workers. In October alone, businesses posted more than 50,000 vacancies, reflecting their determination to maintain production and prepare for the peak season.

Based on survey data from 970 enterprises covering 6,113 job requirements, the structure of labor demand has shifted noticeably.

Service industries still hold the largest share at 45.7 percent, but demand is rising more strongly in direct production fields. Meanwhile, the manufacturing and processing sector has increased its recruitment need to 24.2 percent, while construction has jumped from 6.25 percent to 15.2 percent.

“Businesses are accelerating hiring to keep up with year end orders for consumer goods and exports, driving demand for both full time and part time workers,” said Thanh.

This shift is reshaping qualification requirements as employers are prioritizing hands on skills rather than academic degrees.

Demand for unskilled and entry level workers has surged from 17.7 percent to 28.4 percent. Recruitment for technical staff and skilled workers accounts for 20.4 percent and 31.4 percent respectively. Electronics, mechanical engineering, textiles and footwear are among the sectors attracting the most labor.

At the same time, demand for university graduates remains relatively high at 21.3 percent but has softened as companies channel resources into roles that support immediate production.

Salary patterns also reflect the year-end restructuring. The wage bracket of VND5 million to VND10 million (US$213-425) per month dominates at 71.1 percent, suitable for most general labor and basic technical positions. Salaries from VND10 million to VND20 million (US$425-850) remain stable at 26.8 percent. Only 1.8 percent of vacancies offer more than VND20 million (US$850), indicating that companies are focusing on retaining senior personnel rather than hiring new high-level staff during the final months of the year.

Job fairs boost hiring momentum

The upward trend from November is expected to continue as businesses prepare for Christmas, New Year and the 2026 Lunar New Year.

Labor demand in manufacturing is forecast to rise about 6 percent, particularly in textiles and electronics. Retail and logistics are projected to increase 4 to 5 percent, while construction is set to grow around 4 percent. In contrast, real estate, finance, banking and insurance are seeing reduced recruitment toward the end of the year.

At the Hanoi Job Exchange, employers report intense recruitment activity.

At the 2025 job fair in Phu Thuong Ward, Nguyen Huy Hoan, a recruiter from Vincons under Vingroup, said the company needs up to 50,000 workers for projects nationwide.

He said facing a severe shortage of construction labor at year end, the company has adopted a 24-hour accelerated recruitment process. Applicants only need to complete an online interview and submit identification documents and successful candidates can start work the next day.

“My company offers salaries 30 percent higher than the market average and provides daily meals worth VND100,000 ($4.25). It has also expanded the hiring age for skilled workers to 55,” said Hoan.

In the trade and services sector, Nhat Tan Company is recruiting for nearly 20 hotel and restaurant positions. Managerial roles offer VND40 million to VND50 million ($1,700-2,125) per month, while general service jobs pay VND10 million to VND13 million ($425-550).

According to recruitment officer Tran Thi Cuc, the company is ready to hire public employees and workers impacted by administrative restructuring.

“Experienced workers aged 40 to 50 continue to have strong job opportunities. The company also confirmed it will raise salaries from January 1, 2026 in accordance with Government Decree 293,” said Cuc.

City strengthens job matching and labor support

In response to rising demand, the Hanoi Employment Service Center has set priorities for the coming months. The center will continue to follow municipal directives to support labor market development, including expanding mobile job fairs to communes and wards and bringing recruitment information closer to residents.

“A key task is to assist civil servants, public employees and workers affected by administrative restructuring in finding new jobs. The center will also improve data connectivity and labor market forecasting to supply businesses with suitable workers during the final months of 2025,” said Deputy Director Vu Quang Thanh.

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