Recruitment businesses are more selective in 2026

Recruitment associated with development strategies

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh - Director of Lac Viet Human Resources Supply Company (Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi) - commented that in 2026, instead of mass recruitment to fill the quantity, many businesses will switch to prioritizing human resource quality, focusing on positions that are really necessary for long-term production and business activities.

Our actual records show that the general trend in 2026 is less selection but careful selection. The company no longer widely expands its personnel but sets more strict criteria on skills, adaptability and value for the organization, said Ms. Quynh Anh.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chung - Director of Ha Quang Garment Export Company Limited (Viet Hung Ward, Hanoi) - said that the company has nearly 600 employees, the recruitment plan for 2026 is reduced in quantity compared to the previous period, but increases quality requirements.

"We do not recruit many people as before but focus on key positions, capable of taking on many tasks and adapting quickly to new technology. A good employee today can replace the role of two or three previous positions, Mr. Chung shared.

According to Mr. Chung, the process of digital transformation, streamlining the apparatus and optimizing costs has forced businesses to reconsider the way they use labor. Positions with intermediate characteristics, repetitive work or easy to automate continue to be narrowed, while positions that create direct value for products, services and customers are prioritized.

job opportunities do not "expand", opportunities for specific labor groups

Although the recruitment trend is more cautious, experts say that the labor market in 2026 will not fall into a "frozen" state. On the contrary, job opportunities still exist, but focus on specific human resource groups with skills suitable for the development needs of businesses.

Mr. Le Quang Trung - former Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Employment - assessed that in 2026, the group of workers with clear professional capacity, practical experience and the ability to work independently will have more opportunities. Instead of hiring a large number of unskilled workers or newly graduated students without skills, businesses are willing to pay higher salaries to attract human resources to meet job requirements from the beginning. Businesses will also prioritize recruiting workers who have "collised" with reality, even those not from prestigious universities. This shows that qualifications are no longer a decisive factor, but practical capacity and working attitude are an important measure.

From a market perspective, Mr. Vu Quang Thanh - Deputy Director of the Hanoi Employment Service Center - said that 2026 will record high demand for some groups of human resources.

"First, the group of technology and digital transformation human resources with positions related to information technology, data, automation, and digital system operation; second, the group of technical human resources, high-quality operations and production, skilled technical workers, knowing how to operate modern machinery, automated lines, and being knowledgeable about production processes; third, the group of human resources for sales, customer care and market development; fourth, the group of mid-level management human resources with the ability to work effectively", said Mr. Vu Quang Thanh.

Mr. Thanh also advised that in the context of highly selective recruitment, workers should not rely on the number of jobs as much as before but need to focus on improving their self-worth. People with practical skills, willing to learn and adapt will find suitable jobs; on the contrary, workers who lack skills and are afraid of change will face many difficulties. Young workers, especially new graduates, need to clearly identify their career direction, invest in core skills, digital skills and soft skills. Participating in internships, working part-time in the right profession, and accumulating practical experience will be a great advantage when participating in the labor market in 2026.

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