Dinh Tien Hieu, head of the Training and Student Affairs Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that demand for psychological human resources is rising along with work and life pressures, with businesses increasingly concerned about the mental health of employees.

“The demand for psychology majors is at a high level. Many businesses have recruited graduates to provide psychological support for employees or participate in human resource development activities,” Hieu said.

Beyond traditional roles such as counseling or therapy, these graduates have opportunities to work in businesses, social organizations, schools, or multinational corporations. 

This major is expanding its scope into areas like human resource management, organizational development, communication, education, and workplace healthcare.

Son noted that over the past 5–10 years, demand for psychology professionals in Vietnam has risen significantly, along with higher requirements for expertise, practical skills, and professional ethics.

This trend is driven by increased awareness of mental health after the COVID-19 pandemic, greater emphasis on school psychology roles, and rising workplace pressure pushing companies to focus more on employees’ mental well-being.

Additionally, the expansion of counseling and psychological therapy services, recognition of clinical psychologists within the healthcare system, and the growing number of university programs in psychology have all contributed to broader career opportunities.

Broad career opportunities 

The current employment rate of psychology students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities after graduation has reached about 90 percent, with an average starting salary ranging from VND6 million to VND10 million/month.

Annually, the university receives many recruitment notices for psychology students for positions such as: school counseling at educational institutions, especially private and international schools; training and customer care staff at businesses and multinational corporations like LG or Samsung; and counseling and therapy officers at centers and hospitals. 

In addition, there are opportunities at non-governmental organizations and community projects, as well as positions as researchers or lecturers at research institutes and universities.

Psychology graduates can hold many professional positions in the fields of education, health, business, and social activities. They can work in school psychology at educational institutions, and as psychological counseling specialists or clinical psychological assistants at counseling centers, hospitals, and social organizations.

Other jobs include human resource specialists in businesses in areas such as recruitment, training, human resource development, and mental health care for employees.

Furthermore, the fields of special education, behavioral communication, and market research also recruit for this major.

Many businesses have begun implementing employee assistance programs (EAP) and schools are increasing the number of school psychology specialists, while private psychological counseling and therapy centers are appearing more frequently. 

Despite the rising demand, the psychology sector lacks sufficient human resources to meet needs. According to a 2021 UNICEF report, Vietnam has 143 clinical psychologists and psychotherapists (3 percent of clinicians) in public hospitals. Per 100,000 people, the number of clinical psychologists/psychotherapists is 0.15 - nearly 10 times lower than the global average.

As society increasingly focuses on mental health and the quality of human resources, Psychology students need to be equipped with not only specialized knowledge but also many important professional skills. Besides the theoretical foundation of psychology and human behavior, students need to develop the ability to observe, analyze, listen, and empathize with others.

Along with that, soft skills, communication skills, critical thinking, research, and problem-solving also play an important role in the work process. In fields such as education, business, health, and community development, these competencies help psychological personnel understand the social context, thereby providing appropriate approaches and support.

Foreign language ability and updating research methods also need to be emphasized, as they are essential factors for Psychology students to adapt to an increasingly diverse and international professional environment.

Thanh Hung