Generative AI could transform millions of jobs in Viet Nam: ILO report

The brief, titled ‘Generative AI and Jobs in Viet Nam: Labour Market Exposure and Policy Considerations’, identifies the potential GenAI exposure in Viet Nam and its concentration across sectors, occupations, provinces and worker groups, including differences by gender, education and formality.

It finds that while GenAI-related changes are likely to be widespread, the more probable outcome is task transformation within jobs rather than large-scale displacement.

Only around one million workers are in occupations where tasks are both highly susceptible to AI and standardised, implying that the risk of full automation affects a relatively small share of the workforce - less than 2%, which is lower than in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The report shows that exposure is uneven across the labour market. Clerical support workers face the highest risk, with nearly two thirds employed in occupations most susceptible to GenAI-driven task automation. Financial and insurance services, wholesale and retail trade, and information and communication are among the sectors with the highest exposure rates.

Geographically, workers in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang account for more than a third of all potentially affected jobs nationwide.

The brief also highlights a significant gender gap. Women are more likely than men to be in jobs exposed to GenAI, with an exposure rate of 24.1% compared to 17.8% for men. Even after accounting for differences in education, occupation and other characteristics, women remain significantly more exposed. This reflects the concentration of female employment in clerical, administrative and service roles where GenAI applications are more readily applicable due to highly standardised, documentation-intensive tasks.

Despite growing global concern about AI-related job losses, the report finds no clear evidence so far of declining employment opportunities for young, highly educated workers in sectors with high GenAI exposure in Viet Nam during the period of 2022-2024. On the contrary, employment in highly exposed service sectors has continued to expand in recent years, suggesting that labour demand remains resilient as AI adoption is still at an early stage.

According to ILO Country Director for Viet Nam, Sinwon Park, Viet Nam has a significant opportunity to harness generative AI as a driver of productivity and decent work. However, the benefits and risks will not be evenly distributed, with women facing higher levels of exposure than men.

She stressed that getting this transition right requires deliberate action now: reinforcing AI governance in line with labour standards, investing in people's skills, ensuring workers have a voice in how AI is introduced in their workplaces, supporting SMEs in responsible AI adoption, and putting in place the protections needed to ensure technological change is fair and inclusive.