NIC and USAID representatives kick off the "New Opportunities" programme. (Photo courtesy of NIC) Huy made his comment during a forum discussing digital jobs, which presentedthe results of a programme called "New Opportunities" under theguidance of the Workforce for Innovation and Startup Ecosystem (USAID WISE).The event was co-hosted by the National Innovation Centre and USAID in Hanoi lastweek.
The two events aim to support the development of Vietnam’s digital-savvyemployee base to meet the challenges in the fourth industrial revolution.
Through digital skills training courses, employees, especially the unemployedor those who want to change careers after the COVID-19 pandemic, will getup-to-date knowledge to meet their future job requirements.
According to Huy, the training sessions will teach people how to proficientlyaccess and use digital technology, thereby giving them more opportunities tofind advanced jobs and progress in their careers. This is a key factor foremployees in the context of constantly changing work patterns and thedevelopment of the services industry in Vietnam.
Aler Grubbs, Director of USAID Vietnam said: “The New Opportunities Programmeis part of our broader partnership to support Vietnam’s shift to aknowledge-based, high-tech economy."
"Workers can broadly contribute to and benefit from this new economy. Vietnamhas been very focused on digital development and transformation, and embracingthe fourth industrial revolution. This requires a significant shift in workforceskill composition.”
Do Tien Thinh, Deputy Director of NIC said that the New Opportunities programmewas initially conducted in the first quarter of 2023, when many were unemployeddue to the lingering economic hit of the pandemic.
The New Opportunities programme helps workers participate in training, withwomen making up at least 20% of the total. After the training, 50% of theparticipants should be able to secure a new job, Thinh said.
Many enterprises in the textiles and electronics industries were forced to layoff staff. In addition, a number of workers were replaced by machines and hadto change their careers altogether.
This programme focuses on supporting unemployed workers due to the impact ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those likely to face unemployment due toautomation in the future. It also aims to create opportunities for workers tojoin short-term training courses to improve their skills better to adapt to thedigital economy.
Nguyen Thi Nga, a representative of the World Bank, said that Vietnam’slabour market has made a drastic change from self-employed to salariedemployees.
Currently, 70% of the fastest-growing occupational groups are specialists andtechnicians in the fields of IT, healthcare, science and technology andeconomics, as well as business and administration. Digital literacy is nowwidespread in Vietnam with about two-thirds of careers requiring it.
Many technical skills in Vietnam still fall below the globalaverage, especially those involving advertising, architecture, and electronics.She noted that careers now require high levels of computer use.
She said Vietnam needs to increase investment in boosting the supply andquality of labour in developing industries.
Within the framework of the forum, USAID's Economic Growth Support Program inAsia (US-SEGA) and FUNiX signed a cooperation agreement to pilot the"Digital transformation for Vietnamese workers" programme. Theactivities promise to help workers narrow the gap in knowledge in the keysectors of the fourth industrial revolution and develop new skills toreposition themselves and take advantage of new opportunities./.
VNA
