Vietnam's high school graduates would rather enter the labor workforce than apply for university due to the hike in skilled worker demand. Students enrolling in technical education also increased significantly over the last two years.
In a recent interview, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Training, Truong Anh Dung, revealed that one of the main reasons why the country's labor workers are packed with fresh high school graduates is due to the hike in demand for skilled workers.
The country's need for skilled workers has prompted Vietnam's vocational training department to step up its initiatives for students who want to pursue technical jobs in the near future.
According to Ahn Dung, the department should prioritize the creation of training programs that are largely based on the demands of Vietnamese companies. He added that the department should come up with new policies supporting the cause of graduates who "want to improve their occupational knowledge and skills."
When asked about the level of cooperation between enterprises and schools in terms of vocational training, Ahn Dung noted that there are policies supporting collaboration between the two entities.
The goal of school and company cooperation is to provide students with more skills and knowledge necessary for their future careers. Circular No. 29 issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs noted that Vietnamese companies "should be involved in up to 40 percent of the teaching program."
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reaffirmed the role of highly-skilled workers in helping drive the economy. He said these workers open opportunities for the country's goal of being a competitive global leader in the workforce sector.
Nguyen further explained that workers with high skills are "a national treasure." Through their quality service and knowledge in many fields, foreign investors are getting attracted. This is especially true in Vietnam's standard of high production and quality.
While skilled workers are very crucial for economic growth, they make up on less than 19 percent of the country's total workforce. Nguyen then urged various ministries to drive the numbers up through creating policies that will promote skilled jobs and training.
In response to the call, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung noted that the ministry is working to push cooperation between Vietnamese firms and training facilities in a bid to promote vocational upskilling.
Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha committed to increasing the various forms of training for interested learners. Among the segments are foreign language learning and professional skills.
