According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), for example, 86 per cent of workers in Vietnam’s textile and footwear industries are at great risk of losing their jobs under the influence of technological breakthroughs caused by Industry 4.0. 

Titled The 4th Industrial Revolution and the impact on the labor market in Vietnam, the seminar drew economists and other experts, all of whom agreed that the country will struggle to adapt to Industry 4.0—the wave of rapid technological development transforming workforces and economies across the world.

According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), for example, 86 per cent of workers in Vietnam’s textile and footwear industries are at great risk of losing their jobs under the influence of technological breakthroughs caused by Industry 4.0.

“Industry 4.0 will leave no place for farming workers. The youth unemployment rate will be higher. The shortage of skilled workers as Industry 4.0 comes will also be very high,” Pham Quang Ngoc, an economist and labour market expert, said at the seminar.

“If we don’t have creativity, technological application will be very low. The weak competition will lead to no growth,” said Ngoc.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Readiness for the Future of Production Report 2018, among the 100 countries assessed, Vietnam was ranked among those that aren’t ready for Industry 4.0.

Solutions

Dr. Lê Anh Vinh from the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences at the Ministry of Education and Training said the young generation needed to be prepared for major changes to the country’s workforce.

More than half of Vietnam’s workforce is under the age of 40, with the proportion of workers aged 15-29 at 25 per cent.

Not only lacking in professional knowledge, Vietnamese workers are weak in problem solving, leadership and communication skills. The advantage of low labour costs in Vietnam is gradually losing attractiveness in the eyes of foreign investors.  

Enterprises surveyed by domestic and foreign organizations for a number of research projects said they were dissatisfied with the quality of education and skills of staff, especially engineers and technicians.

At the seminar, experts mapped out solutions.

Training institutions need to adopt learner-centered training methods and the application of information technology in lecture design and delivery.

Innovation of form and method of examination are needed to develop work capability and creativity among learners.

Institutions should pay more attention to the development of the automation industry, as well as invest in in-depth research teams in the fields of information technology, energy and new materials and biotechnology.

The State focuses on forecasting human resource needs according to the structure of the industry and training level. On that basis, the State has made timely adjustments in terms of training, meeting the requirements of socio-economic development in each period and intensifying multilateral and bilateral cooperation in the field of education and training.

The State shall train and foster teachers and school administrators and create favourable legal and social conditions for foreign investors to open high-quality educational institutions in Vietnam.

Enterprises need to deploy robots to automate and apply technology solutions to improve productivity.

The seminar was jointly organized by Vietnam Omega Books Joint Stock Co, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Office of Employers and the Centre for International Studies at University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University HCM City. - VNS