The goods processing and manufacturing industry is expected to gain ground and expand its workforce through the rest of 2015, according to a labour market update released on July 20 by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the General Statistics Office.

Maintaining momentum from the first quarter, 86.4 percent of the industry’s businesses said they intend to hire additional staff.

The highest demand for manpower is estimated to be concentrated in sectors producing apparel, beverages, electronic and optical equipments, and machinery maintenance and assembly.

New employment opportunities will come mostly from foreign-funded enterprises.

The impact of the amended employment and education laws will accelerate the regional integration of Vietnam’s labour market. Meanwhile, as the ASEAN Economic Community is set to be established by the end of this year, bloc citizens trained in accounting, engineering, architecture, dentistry, transportation, nursing and tourism, will be able to travel and work across the region. It is both an opportunity and a competitive challenge for Vietnamese employees.-VNA