Mekong Delta needs to tackle human resources challenges: experts

HCM City (VNA) – The Mekong Delta, which comprises 13 localities, is facing a severe shortage of human resources due to its population changes over the past years, which requires proper solutions and strategies to address.

Associate Professor Le Anh Tuan, a lecture from the Can Tho University, said the delta, whose population is approximately 17.3 million, has the lowest immigration rate and the highest emigration rate in the country.

In the 2009-2019 period, its population growth was zero percent compared with the entire nation’s 1.14 percent, the expert added.

According to Associate Professor Dam Sao Mai, Vice Rector of the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, it is necessary to come up with a training strategy that attracts the return of locals with high professional skills and nurtures young human resources in the region, particularly facilitating their process to start a business.

Tieu Yen Trinh, director of the Talentnet company, which operates in the human resources sector, recommended connecting localities in the region and identifying key training subjects.

She highlighted the need to simultaneously implement the three strategies of recruiting - attracting talents, developing human resources in the region, and capitalising on the grey matter of domestic and international experts working in the delta.

Localities and training facilities ought to work closely with enterprises to correctly identify the demand of the labour market, Trinh added.

Tran Thai Nghiem, deputy director of the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said agricultural production in the delta is now closely associated with climate change, market fluctuations and changes in consumer trends.

As such, he suggested human resources training for the sector focus on equipping suitable knowledge and skills following such changes in contribution to the region’s sustainable development./.