Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has urged South Korea to further raise hiring quotas and broaden the range of sectors open to Vietnamese workers.
According to South Korea’s employment information agency, the country’s labor force is projected to grow by 312,000 people during 2023–2033—far below the nearly 3.2 million increase seen in the previous decade—as the birthrate remains persistently low.
To address shortages of highly skilled labor, the Korea Professional Construction Association has held E7-1 skills tests at Vietnamese training institutions with the aim of recruiting 150 Vietnamese construction engineers to work in South Korea.
Kang Sung-ju of the Korea Professional Construction Association said: “Construction practices still differ between South Korea and Vietnam, so Vietnamese workers will receive further upskilling. South Korea’s labor market is aging and facing acute shortages, while Vietnam has a young, well-trained workforce. They can expect higher incomes, and diligent workers may have opportunities for long-term stays. In total, 25 Korean construction companies need to hire foreign workers; from Vietnam alone, 12 firms plan to recruit 80 engineers.”
Vietnam currently has more than 10 universities and colleges training construction engineers, and domestic project experience has expanded in recent years. Labor exchange with South Korea is therefore not only a job opportunity but also a pathway to build capacity by working on large-scale projects in a more developed market.
Pham Ngoc Thu, CEO of Dai Viet Construction Investment and Development JSC, said: “Vietnam already has buildings as tall as 81 stories. Compared with some countries, our construction industry is advancing rapidly, and I’m confident Vietnamese engineers are on par with peers in South Korea or Japan. In the past, overseas recruitment focused on general labor. Bringing in engineers under the E7-1 visa is a step forward that will enhance skills and experience.”
Civil engineer Hoang Xuan Thang added: “This creates chances for professional exchange across borders in construction, and it offers Vietnamese workers more stable jobs with higher pay.”
Recent figures show the average age of highly skilled Korean construction engineers is 51.4, while only 24.6% are aged 60 or above. South Korea remains one of the main traditional destinations for Vietnamese workers due to cultural affinities and high wages—promising significant opportunities for Vietnam’s young construction engineers.
