A new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) shows that more than one-third of domestic jobs are directly or indirectly linked to global supply chains, while significantly dependent on the pulse of major commodity markets. This raises an urgent need for the adaptability of the labor market, the quality of workforce skills, as well as the resilience of the domestic business sector in the face of increasingly unpredictable external shocks. The Saigon Times had an email interview with Felix Weidenkaff, employment policy and labor market specialist at the ILO Office in Vietnam, to clarify the trends shaping Vietnam’s labor market and to suggest policy priorities for the next 3–5 years. The Saigon Times: According to the ILO, Vietnam currently accounts for more than one-quarter (around 27.1%) of the 75 million supply-chain-related jobs in Southeast Asia, and over 35% of total domestic employment. What do these figures reflect, in your view, and what are their key implications for the labor market today? Felix Weidenkaff: Global supply chain (GSC)-related employment in Vietnam accounted for more than 25% of the more than 75 million GSC-related jobs in South-East Asia in 2023. The growth of GSC-related employment reflects Vietnam’s strong integration into GSCs, […]
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