Over the past five years, Vietnam’s workforce has made steady progress in both size and quality. The labor force grew from approximately 50.5 million people in 2021 to 53.7 million in the first half of 2026, while the share of workers with formal degrees or certifications increased from 26.1% to 29.7%. This reflects continued progress in workforce training and skills development.
Vietnam’s workforce can be broadly viewed across three levels: general workers, who remain essential to manufacturing, construction, logistics, and services; skilled technical workers, who are increasingly important in mechanical engineering, electronics, automation, and supporting industries; and high-skilled professionals, whose numbers are growing in technology, AI, semiconductors, production management, and other advanced fields.
According to the World Bank, Vietnam’s human capital performance is relatively strong for its income level. In 2026, Vietnam’s HCI+ score reached 216, slightly above the East Asia and Pacific regional average of 215. At the same time, the OECD notes that Vietnam still needs to accelerate the development of high-skilled technical talent to meet the growing needs of FDI companies and emerging technology industries.
The growing presence of international companies is also helping strengthen Vietnam’s workforce by giving local employees greater access to advanced technologies, modern production processes, and international workplace standards. This is helping Vietnamese workers become increasingly capable of meeting the needs of both domestic and global businesses.
Vietnam is not yet a leader in high-skilled talent across Asia, but its workforce is making clear and steady progress. The country is gradually moving from an advantage based mainly on a large labor pool toward a stronger combination of skills, technical capabilities, and technology adaptability.
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