Shortage of high-quality textile and garment workforce: What does the ILO recommend for Vietnam?
Manpower remains a key advantage
In a recently published report, the International Labor Organization (ILO) recognizes Vietnam’s potential to capitalize on the strong growth of the textile and garment market in the coming decades. Although the country’s low labor cost advantage is gradually diminishing, improved competitiveness and better transport infrastructure will help domestic textile and garment manufacturers manage and reduce production costs.
Regarding human resources, the industry benefits from a demographic dividend – Vietnam has a large and relatively young population – along with improvements in vocational education and skill development. These factors provide opportunities to enhance labor productivity and strengthen competitiveness.
This is evident in the sector's workforce growth from nearly 1.8 million workers in 2012 to approximately 3.4 million in 2023, with over 3 million in garment manufacturing and 324,000 in the textile sector.
However, the ILO report also highlights an aging workforce in the textile and garment industry, making it increasingly difficult for businesses to recruit young workers.
The occupational structure has remained relatively stable, with medium-skilled jobs consistently accounting for 92-94% of employment in the sector. However, there has been a noticeable shift within this skill category.
Specifically, jobs in "craft and related trades" are gradually transitioning to "assemblers and machine operators." This reflects the rising trend of automation in production and job restructuring within larger enterprises. As a result, the demand for semi-skilled manual labor is declining, while the need for semi-skilled workers who can operate and maintain machinery is increasing.
The rapid advancement of technology, automation, and artificial intelligence is reshaping both production processes and the labor market in the textile and garment industry. To address these changes, a comprehensive effort to enhance workforce quality is essential.
![]() |
The textile and garment industry is providing jobs for 3.4 million workers. Illustrative image |
Solutions to improve workforce quality
According to the ILO report, Vietnam has 577 public education institutions providing textile and garment-related training programs at three levels: college, intermediate, and elementary. These include 113 colleges, 107 technical high schools, and 357 state-run training centers. Additionally, about 38 universities in Vietnam offer textile-related majors, but enrollment remains challenging due to competition with other academic programs.
Several initiatives, such as the Better Work Vietnam Program, along with various global brands, regularly conduct training sessions for employees and workers. These focus on areas like compliance, soft skills, occupational health and safety, and supply chain management.
Despite ongoing efforts, the number of trained workers remains limited. Between 2015 and 2023 (excluding 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the textile and garment industry added an average of over 200,000 workers annually. However, trained workers accounted for only about 40% of the total workforce.
To enhance workforce quality, many businesses have implemented on-the-job training tailored to industry-specific skills and practical needs.
The ILO recommends that the government and enterprises improve training effectiveness and implement supportive policies, particularly in developing skills essential for upgrading Vietnam’s textile and garment value chain.
Key measures include:
Boosting productivity and wages while improving working conditions and career progression opportunities to attract and retain workers.
Enhancing the industry's image to attract students and workers by increasing public awareness of the sector’s growth potential and its role in Vietnam’s economy.
Strengthening pre-employment and in-service soft skills training with active participation from multiple stakeholders.
Promoting quality assessment, certification, and accreditation for industry training programs.
Increasing industry involvement in skill development to align training programs with labor market demands.
Improving budget allocation for skills training and workforce development based on industry needs.
By implementing these strategies, Vietnam’s textile and garment sector can strengthen its workforce, improve productivity, and maintain competitiveness in the evolving global market.See also

Vietnam tightens port and offshore activity control to tackle IUU fishing
22:12 | 05/04/2025 Society

Cordyceps production chain improves lives of ethnic communities
17:48 | 04/04/2025 Society
See more news

Vietnam calls on RoK to share expertise in high-speed railway development
16:37 | 01/04/2025 Society

Vietnam, US strengthen higher education cooperation
16:20 | 01/04/2025 Society

Party chief offers incense to fallen heroes in Da Nang
16:53 | 29/03/2025 Society

Addressing bottlenecks in Vietnam’s rice industry
19:02 | 28/03/2025 Society

Over 6.2 billion USD needed for expanding North-South expressway
16:50 | 28/03/2025 Society

Dien Bien promotes high-tech agriculture to drive development in ethnic minority areas
10:34 | 27/03/2025 Province

Ho Chi Minh City is favored to be an international financial hub: Experts
17:33 | 25/03/2025 Society

Expressway projects to promote socio-economic development
17:24 | 25/03/2025 Society

PM urges youth to make more efforts to advance nation to new era
16:54 | 24/03/2025 Society

Breakthrough in consumer rights protection
15:43 | 24/03/2025 Society

Vietnam tightens port and offshore activity control to tackle IUU fishing
22:12 | 05/04/2025 Society

VASEP proposes negotiation plan with the US on reducing tariffs on seafood products
22:08 | 05/04/2025 Trade

Economic, trade cooperation with US based on principle of mutual benefit: PM
22:03 | 05/04/2025 Cooperation

Vietnamese enterprises float products at world's largest startup fair in India
21:59 | 05/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway hoped to boost Vietnam’s 2nd largest economic corridor
21:50 | 05/04/2025 Economy
Multimedia

Infographic: Gold prices fluctuate following US retaliatory tariff announcement
21:45 | 04/04/2025 Infographic

Seven key missions of the National Data Association
20:07 | 30/03/2025 Infographic

Vietnam – Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
16:03 | 26/03/2025 Infographic

Private sector contributes about 51% of GDP
16:08 | 24/03/2025 Infographic

By 2025, localities nationwide assigned to complete 100,275 social housing units
18:12 | 22/03/2025 Infographic

A decree, a statement: Part 2: Sending a strong message
09:06 | 02/04/2025 Policy

A decree, a statement: Part 1: A draft strategic decree and strategic trust
08:30 | 02/04/2025 Policy

Vietnam wants to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation with Belgium: State President
14:02 | 01/04/2025 Policy

52 provincial-level administrative units to be reorganised: draft resolution
16:06 | 27/03/2025 Policy

Vietnam, Japan forge 25-year oil and gas partnership
16:58 | 01/04/2025 Industry

Tra Vinh approves investment policy for five more wind power projects
16:09 | 29/03/2025 Industry

Ample room to float Vietnam’s shipbuilding industry
15:54 | 29/03/2025 Industry

Nuclear power plant development in Vietnam: Many key steps taken
17:37 | 22/03/2025 Industry

Deputy PM pledges strong support for Korean investors
18:41 | 05/04/2025 Investment

Dong Nai’s Q1 FDI attraction nears yearly target
09:36 | 02/04/2025 Investment

Work begins on two hi-tech factories in Bac Ninh province
17:46 | 31/03/2025 Investment

PM seeks aviation partnership with Brazil's Embraer Group
09:34 | 31/03/2025 Investment

What factors have pushed gold prices beyond 3,000 USD per ounce?
17:26 | 04/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Central bank’s credit growth target helps real estate recovery
10:13 | 04/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Over 2.54 bln USD raised through government bond auctions
09:59 | 03/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Capital markets pave the way for Vietnamese tech “unicorns”
17:07 | 01/04/2025 Finance-Banking

Turning waste into resources for sustainable development
21:40 | 04/04/2025 Environment

Vietnamese, Belgian institutes sign MoU on climate change response cooperation
21:37 | 31/03/2025 Environment

Empowering businesses for successful green transition
16:45 | 29/03/2025 Environment

Earthquake triggers emergency in Thailand, sparks widespread tremors in regional countries
17:01 | 28/03/2025 Environment

Vietnam has advantages in promoting sci-tech development, innovation: British scholar
17:18 | 01/04/2025 Science - Technology

HCM City set to host laboratory expo Analytica Vietnam
17:14 | 01/04/2025 Science - Technology

HCM City forum strengthens Vietnam’s semiconductor, high-tech supply chains
17:05 | 01/04/2025 Science - Technology

Vietnam Semiconductor Innovation Centre boots up in Hanoi
17:49 | 29/03/2025 Science - Technology

Vietnam tightens port and offshore activity control to tackle IUU fishing
22:12 | 05/04/2025 Society

Cordyceps production chain improves lives of ethnic communities
17:48 | 04/04/2025 Society

Shortage of high-quality textile and garment workforce: What does the ILO recommend for Vietnam?
17:23 | 04/04/2025 Society

Vietnam calls on RoK to share expertise in high-speed railway development
16:37 | 01/04/2025 Society

Vietnamese enterprises float products at world's largest startup fair in India
21:59 | 05/04/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Philosophy 3C and story of smart consumption
09:15 | 22/03/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnamese rice exporters urged to boost global competitiveness
16:48 | 10/03/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Improving product value and people’s lives
16:52 | 06/03/2025 Vietnamese Brands

Vietnamese cultural values introduced to international friends in Mexico
20:55 | 30/03/2025 Culture

Hung Kings’ Festival 2025: a grand celebration of culture and heritage
15:21 | 30/03/2025 Culture

Vietnam works to seek UNESCO status for Binh Dinh martial arts
18:00 | 29/03/2025 Culture

Nghe An to host ASEAN exhibition this May
16:47 | 24/03/2025 Culture

Vietnam’s scenic landscapes attract Hollywood filmmakers
15:15 | 30/03/2025 Tourism

Positioning unique tourism products to enhance attractiveness of Vietnamese cities
17:56 | 29/03/2025 Tourism

Hue gears up for new tourism opportunities
09:02 | 27/03/2025 Tourism

International visitors to HCM City increase by 18.2% in Q1
16:18 | 26/03/2025 Tourism