Hanoi targets 171,000 new jobs, prioritizes digital skills and green economy

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi plans to create about 171,000 new jobs this year and bring the urban unemployment rate below 3% under a labor market development and job creation plan for 2026.

The plan, issued on January 10 by the Hanoi People’s Committee, highlights workforce quality, digital skills and the green economy as core pillars of the capital’s labor market strategy for the coming year.

The city expects 75.8% of workers to receive formal training, with more than half holding degrees or professional certificates. It targets average labor productivity growth of 7%-7.5% a year to boost competitiveness and improve growth quality.

To meet these targets, Hanoi will strengthen labor market information systems to give workers clearer insights into hiring trends, emerging sectors and employers’ recruitment needs.

The city will expand vocational training, employment support policies, unemployment insurance and social welfare programs, enabling jobseekers to connect with suitable opportunities more effectively.

A central focus of the plan is training in new and high-demand skills amid digital transformation and the shift toward a green economy. Priority areas include information technology, foreign languages, soft skills, digital workplace competencies and emerging occupations.

Training formats will become more flexible and diverse, combining online learning, enterprise-based programs and blended models that link theory with practical experience.

At the same time, Hanoi will continue restructuring its labor force by reducing reliance on unskilled labor and raising the share of well-trained, highly skilled workers. This shift aims to meet demand from high-tech industries, the digital economy and green growth sectors.

Vocational training will remain closely tied to business demand through partnerships and demand-driven models.

Hanoi will also reorganize and strengthen its job exchange system to improve efficiency under the two-tier local government model.

The municipal employment portal will receive upgrades, with greater use of artificial intelligence and digital tools to collect, process and analyze labor market data.

Both in-person and online job fairs, including specialized recruitment events, will continue to improve job matching and expand connections with neighboring localities.

Through coordinated measures spanning training, market linkage and digital application, Hanoi seeks to build a more flexible, modern and sustainable labor market in 2026, helping workers adapt to the demands of digitalization and the green transition.

Last year, Hanoi created 222,000 new jobs, cutting the urban unemployment rate to 2.1%, according to the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs.