HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM (2015-2024): TRENDS AND POLICY RESPONSES

This study examines the development of Vietnam’s human resources during the 2015-2024 period, a decade marked by profound economic transformation, digitalization, and the impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Employing historical-logical and statistical-descriptive methods combined with international comparative analysis, the paper draws on data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO), the World Bank (WB), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and key policy documents of the Communist Party and the State. Findings reveal that while Vietnam’s labor force size has remained stable, its structure and quality have shifted notably toward a more skilled and industrial-service-oriented composition. The proportion of workers with technical, professional, and digital skills has increased, reflecting positive progress; however, significant challenges persist, including low labor productivity, gender and regional income inequality, and shortages of high-skilled labor. The study recommends several policy directions: reforming education and training systems in line with labor market demands, promoting digital and science–technology human resources, and implementing flexible talent attraction and retention mechanisms. These measures are essential for building a creative, high-quality workforce capable of driving Vietnam’s transition toward a knowledge-based, innovation-driven, and sustainable economy.