Recruitment demand for mid-level and senior managers in the second quarter increased 38 per cent compared to the first quarter, according to Navigos Search’s latest report based on requests from clients.

Demand in the manufacturing sector ranked first, with 30 per cent, followed by consumer goods with 25 per cent. The banking - finance - real estate sectors accounted for 13 per cent, while IT accounted for 8 per cent.

Manufacturing has many large projects but it is not easy to hire senior candidates in the sector, according to the report.

The second quarter saw many foreign companies in the electronics sector expand their operations by opening more factories. Recruitment demand for managerial positions in the new factories increased quickly as a result.

In the north, major investments have been made in electronics projects. Construction of some has begun while others have only been granted licenses. “Project managers and other department managers, therefore, are in high demand,” the report noted.

In the thermal power sector a number of large foreign-invested projects have been licensed in the build-operate-transfer (BOT) form, also pushing up recruitment demand for senior managers.

With more than 20 years of experience in thermal power needed, including many years working with government agencies and an extremely good command of English, only a few candidates are eligible. “The competition to attract these candidates is extremely fierce,” the report noted.  

The highest salaries in the second quarter were in manufacturing, finance, consumer goods, and real estate, according to Navigos Search.

In the second quarter in Ho Chi Minh City a General Manager of a company in the manufacturing sector was paid the highest salary, of VND240 million ($10,764) per month.

Following were senior managers in the textiles and garment sector and the consumer goods sector, with a monthly salary of VND200 million ($8,970) and VND195 million ($8,745), respectively.

In Hanoi, the highest salary was offered to a senior director of a company in the finance sector. A senior manager in the real estate sector paid a monthly salary of VND100 million ($4,485) was among the Top 10 positions in the capital with the highest salaries in the second quarter.