Recruitment demand, especially senior positions in consumer electronics and real estate, is expected to increase in Vietnam as more companies relocate to the country from China, according to the latest report from Navigos Group.

Navigos Group, a recruitment company, operates two of the biggest job portals in the country – VietnamWorks and Navigos Search – which are job sites for executives.

Facing intensive competition from top e-commerce companies with huge financial resources, the consumer electronics market clearly shows the trend of strongly shifting from traditional sales channels to e-commerce, the report said.

Companies in this sector all have business expansion plans for this year and although the market is very competitive, there are still niche markets where companies can exploit.

After Tet (Lunar New Year), recruitment demand in the consumer electronics sector will grow strongly, with more companies entering Vietnam.

The demand for marketing positions in the industry is increasing, especially from multinational companies.

Because of the shortage in human resources, companies in this sector are willing to recruit candidates with experience in other industries such as fast-moving consumer goods.

The electronic manufacturing segment is predicted to have more recruitment demand in 2019, including mid- and high-level human resources in positions such as plant manager, supervisors, managers and assistant level jobs for the back office.

Some companies with foreign direct investment (FDI) in this field have decided to move from China to Vietnam but face recruitment struggles because the salaries are not higher than many other jobs. As a result, candidates are expected to consider whether they want to switch companies.

Enterprises in the electrical and electronics field in Hai Phong City and Bac Ninh province in the last quarter of last year also made plans to expand business.

Tran Anh Tuan, deputy head of the city’s Human Resources Forecasting and Labour Market Information Centre, said more enterprises in the electronic commercial industry this year will be set up in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, creating many jobs.

Lazada sales head and Alibaba Vietnam country manager Tran Xuan Thuy said companies often recruited senior managers from other countries when they begin operating because of the lack of qualified Vietnamese staff.

After several years, Vietnamese who have been trained by senior managers will often take over these jobs occupied by foreigners.

Creating more jobs

FDI capital continues to stream into the property sector, creating more jobs in the market.

This year, investors plan to adjust their portfolio, thereby affecting supply chains and FDI inflows in the real estate market, the report said.

The reason for this mainly comes from two trends – shifting production from China to Vietnam and FDI flow into Vietnam to serve the consumer market in the country and Asean.

In the last quarter of last year, the real estate market saw several “super” projects, leading to high recruitment demand, especially positions related to sales and marketing.

This year, the real estate market is expected to grow steadily. The condo market will grow, while businesses will recruit for positions related to investment and sales.

The market in the northern provinces, especially the neighbouring provinces of Hanoi, and the concentration of many industrial parks will lead to growth in hiring demand. VIET NAM NEWS/ANN