Ho Chi Minh City: Economic recovery, vibrant labor market

Ho Chi Minh City's economy has recovered strongly, leading to a vibrant labor market at the end of the year, especially in the fields of production, consumption and tourism during the holiday season.

Recruitment demand in Ho Chi Minh City at its peak at the end of this year is expected to increase by 10-15%, equivalent to 18,000-24,000 new job positions. Photo: Tieu My

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Home Affairs, after the merger, the expanded city's labor market is showing positive growth momentum. Regional and overall trends reflect a strong recovery of the socio-economy in the final period of the year.

Furthermore, Ho Chi Minh City's GRDP in the third quarter of 2025 increased by 8.11%; industrial production, trade and services, and tourism all experienced significant growth, contributing to the stability of the labor market. At the end of the year – a peak period for production, consumption, and tourism – the economy operates dynamically according to its annual cycle, as businesses accelerate the completion of export orders and implement promotional programs to stimulate shopping during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

According to the Employment Service Center under the Department of Internal Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, recruitment demand during the peak period at the end of this year is expected to increase by 10-15%, equivalent to 18,000-24,000 new job positions. The total labor demand for the whole year is estimated at over 75,000 positions, mainly concentrated in the service, retail, logistics, trade, tourism, hospitality, transportation, and food sectors – areas that account for a large proportion of the city's economic structure. In particular, recruitment demand during the period leading up to Tet 2026 is projected to reach 25,000-30,000 positions, mainly for seasonal and part-time workers.

In terms of occupational structure, labor demand continues to be concentrated in three main groups: processing and manufacturing industries (textiles, footwear, food processing, etc.); services, trade, tourism, and logistics (delivery, warehousing, industrial cleaning, security, protection, etc.); and information technology, finance, and business administration. Meanwhile, the former Binh Duong area is projected to have the highest increase in job demand, from 8,000 to 11,000 positions, mainly in traditional manufacturing industries such as textiles, footwear, wood, electronics, and mechanics – reflecting its characteristic "industrial factory" with thousands of export-oriented businesses.

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Conversely, the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau region recorded a more modest increase of 3,000–4,000 positions, bringing the total annual labor demand to over 40,000. The tourism, hotel, restaurant, transportation, and entertainment sectors saw rapid growth as the locality entered the year-end holiday season, especially Christmas and New Year.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade announced that the second phase of the "Shopping Season" program, from November 15th to December 31st, 2025, allows businesses to implement numerous explosive promotional programs and deep discounts, contributing to stimulating consumer demand. Many manufacturing businesses have increased their output by approximately 20% compared to previous months, leading to a corresponding increase in labor demand.

On the labor side, the supply has also seen notable fluctuations. New graduates from universities, colleges, and vocational schools are entering the market, significantly supplementing the supply. Simultaneously, the number of seasonal workers, especially in the service, retail, and tourism sectors, is rapidly increasing to meet demand during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). However, businesses still face challenges in retaining employees after Tet. Some of the main reasons include the desire to find new jobs, the tendency to stay in their hometowns after the holiday, or the fact that salaries for entry-level positions are not attractive enough to draw candidates.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh City's labor market at the end of 2025 showed a positive growth trend, reflecting the strong recovery of production, trade, and services. With the growth momentum of GRDP and consumer stimulus programs, the city's labor market is expected to remain stable, creating a solid foundation for socio-economic development in 2026.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-kinh-te-phuc-hoi-thi-truong-lao-dong-soi-dong-10393122.html