Ho Chi Minh City’s construction sector faces worker shortages despite monthly pay of up to VND 20 million

As Ho Chi Minh City speeds up transport infrastructure, civil construction and urban improvement projects, construction companies are hiring in large numbers but still face localized shortages of general and skilled workers. The city’s Department of Home Affairs said the simultaneous rollout of multiple projects toward the end of 2026 has increased pressure on labor supply.

Ho Chi Minh City’s construction sector needs more workers toward the end of the year. Monthly pay offered ranges from VND 8 million to VND 10 million for general workers and from VND 12 million to VND 20 million for skilled workers.（VietVance）

Construction employers currently offer monthly pay of VND 8 million–10 million for general workers and VND 12 million–20 million for skilled and specialized positions. According to the Department of Home Affairs, the main reasons companies struggle to recruit and retain workers are the demanding outdoor work, some general workers’ preference for short-term piecework, and competition for labor from industrial parks and the trade and services sectors.

Demanding work and competition for labor from other sectors are making it difficult for Ho Chi Minh City construction companies to recruit and retain workers.（VietVance）

Across the city’s labor market, the Department of Home Affairs estimates that employers will need to fill about 45,000–50,000 positions in the final months of 2026 and before Tet in 2027 to meet export orders and domestic consumer demand at year’s end. Companies in the city sought to fill 246,622 positions in the first nine months of 2026, with demand exceeding 19,500 positions in October alone. Other fields with substantial hiring demand include sales, e-commerce, manufacturing and processing, logistics and warehousing, and import-export.

To keep projects on schedule, Ho Chi Minh City is promoting coordination among government agencies, vocational training institutions and businesses on labor needs, and requiring project investors and contractors to draw up staffing plans. The city’s Employment Service Center has signed cooperation agreements with employment service centers in 11 provinces and cities. It plans to share recruitment and unemployment insurance data to encourage workers from surrounding areas to take jobs in Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: VietVance