As year-end production peaks, many businesses in Hanoi are stepping up hiring, especially in the service and industrial sectors, according to the Hanoi Center for Employment Service. 

The center reported that new business creation has had a positive impact on the labor market, along with a significant decrease in the number of businesses that have closed or ceased operations.

Hanoi hosts many job fairs to bring job seekers and employers together. Photo: Nguyen Hai/The Hanoi Times

Amid this surge in hiring, the wholesale and retail sector has seen a remarkable 572% increase in employment, while manufacturing and construction account for over 24% of new hires.

However, companies are struggling to find candidates even as they are desperate to hire with less stringent requirements.

Hanoi-based Nhat Tin Logistics is facing an uphill battle to meet its fourth-quarter hiring target. Human resources director Nguyen Anh Tu said that the company needs to hire 100 new employees to meet its year-end business plan.

He stressed the need to use multiple recruitment channels to meet targets, including offering salaries of VND12-16 million (US$472-630) per month for 60% of unskilled jobs. Despite the attractive pay, it is challenging to draw applicants during this busy time of the year because job seekers have many possibilities.

"We may consider hiring more part-time workers if we can arrange flexible schedules," Tu added.

Meiko Vietnam Electronics is also struggling to recruit staff for its new factory, which will require around 500 workers.

"We are trying to connect directly with universities to expand our recruitment opportunities, as well as using job fairs and social media. However, it is increasingly difficult to attract candidates as many young workers prefer freelance positions," said company representative Phan Thi Tue Minh.

Viettel Hanoi is looking to fill more than 200 positions in four areas, including sales, customer services, telesales and telecom billing, with monthly salaries ranging from VND7 million ($275) to VND18 million ($708).

Recent job fairs have shown that an average of about 3,000 job openings are offered by enterprises in various industries, Vu Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Center for Employment Service, said.

The center held 22 job fairs in September and 24 in October, enabling many job seekers to find employment while helping enterprises fill their vacancies, he added.

There are many job opportunities for different skill levels, from entry-level positions to those requiring vocational certificates, college degrees, and advanced qualifications, Thanh said.

Salaries for these positions range primarily from VND7 million ($275) to VND15 million ($590), with some specialized positions offering VND15 million ($570) to VND20 million ($786), he said.

In addition, there are positions available for less than VND7 million ($275), including part-time jobs, Thanh said.

"This diversity makes it possible for job seekers, including students and other members of the workforce, to find acceptable work."

The deputy director said that looking ahead to the end of the year, especially in the fourth quarter, many major holidays will lead to increased hiring as businesses finalize orders and anticipate new projects. Since August and September, enterprises in Hanoi have reported higher demand for labor compared to earlier periods.

However, recruitment challenges remain, especially now, Thanh said.

Many workers are opting for stable positions, and job-hopping or leaving a job to seek new opportunities often occurs only under unavoidable circumstances, he said.

In the coming months, the city has instructed the Hanoi Center for Employment Service to provide job counseling and placement services through its main job exchange system and 14 satellite job exchanges in various districts.

In addition to job fairs at the center and satellite locations, there will be an increased focus on online job exchanges, the center's deputy director Thanh said.

The center aims to increase the use of information technology to link labor supply and demand, he said.

“We will also collaborate with district authorities to provide labor market information to businesses and job seekers,” he said.

Thanh added that the center will continue to work with universities and colleges to organize job fairs that bring employers and students together.

"This collaboration will job placement efforts and provide the labor market with qualified candidates," the deputy director said.