Identifying the Talent Shortage
Human capital is one of the key reasons global semiconductor corporations are choosing Vietnam as an investment destination. Investors value the country’s political stability, favorable investment policies, and particularly its large, fast-learning technical workforce.
This advantage was emphasized by Dr. Lê Quang Đạm, General Director of Marvell Vietnam, who highlighted Vietnam’s strong pool of young engineers and solid foundations in mathematics and logic when assessing the overall business environment.
However, this advantage will not last if education quality does not improve. In fact, concerns have already been raised regarding significant workforce shortages within the industry.
According to the latest report from the National Steering Committee for Semiconductor Industry Development, Vietnam currently hosts around 170 FDI projects in semiconductors and high-tech fields, with a total registered capital of approximately US$11.6 billion. Major investments include Intel (US$4.1 billion), Amkor (US$1.6 billion), and Hana Micron (US$673 million).
Workforce statistics indicate that Vietnam has around 7,000 engineers working in IC design companies; 7,000–8,000 engineers in semiconductor packaging, testing, materials, and equipment; and approximately 10,000 technicians in related manufacturing and testing operations.
Including more than 100 Vietnamese semiconductor experts worldwide connected through the Global Innovation Network, Vietnam currently has an estimated 15,000 semiconductor engineers.
Mr. Wan Azmi Bin Wan Hussin, COO of CT Semiconductor, noted that Vietnam holds strong ambitions to become a regional semiconductor hub amid rising domestic and international investment. However, the country urgently needs a high-quality workforce capable of operating and scaling the semiconductor industry.
“Although this industry requires enormous capital investment, capital alone is not enough. Only when capital and talent grow together can the semiconductor sector truly succeed,” he emphasized.
The World Bank’s recent report “Shaping the Future of Vietnam’s Semiconductor Industry: Breakthroughs Through Talent and Innovation” further highlights that the more Vietnam attracts and develops top technical talent, the more flexible and competitive it becomes across the entire semiconductor value chain. Talent development not only creates tens of thousands of high-quality jobs but also accelerates growth across other high-tech sectors, yielding benefits for the broader economy.
A larger and more highly skilled workforce enables domestic companies to move up the value chain and attract higher-quality FDI, creating a cycle of continuous and mutually reinforcing growth.
Diverse Solutions Required
By 2035, Vietnam should aim to be recognized as a global semiconductor talent hub—with a sustainably developed workforce, strong domestic IC design firms, and the capability to attract the next wave of high-value investment, according to the World Bank report.
This aligns with Vietnam’s National Program for Semiconductor Workforce Development to 2030, with Vision to 2050, issued in September 2024. The program targets training at least 50,000 engineers, establishing four national semiconductor laboratories and 18 institutional-level labs for training and research.
Regarding national semiconductor labs, Dr. Võ Xuân Hoài, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), stated that shared-use laboratories are proposed for Vietnam National University HCMC, Vietnam National University Hanoi, Da Nang City, and NIC. The Ministry of Finance has consolidated budget proposals and plans deployment in 2026.
However, to meet the demand for at least 35,000 skilled personnel within the next five years, Vietnam must strengthen coordination among government agencies, educational institutions, and enterprises. Clear and effective collaboration mechanisms are needed to ensure that training programs meet industry requirements while also enabling policymakers and universities to update strategies in line with global trends.
Intel Products Vietnam General Manager Kenneth Tse emphasized the importance of programs that provide students with both broad and in-depth STEM knowledge. Training must be closely connected to real-world applications so that students can quickly translate academic knowledge into practical competence.
From an academic perspective, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phạm Tấn Thi of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology noted that Vietnam should strengthen graduate-level education, aiming to produce at least 100 outstanding engineers and 25 exceptional postgraduate students each year. Investment in advanced laboratories for training, research, and technology transfer is also essential, as this talent pool will lead major projects and programs.
“One major challenge is the shortage of well-rounded engineers capable of complete chip design—from front-end to final product release. Currently, most Vietnamese engineers are limited to portions of the IC design flow, primarily in back-end roles. To achieve full-stack capability, engineers must not only receive stronger training but also engage deeply with global supply chains to build practical expertise,” he noted.
Similarly, Prof. Konrad Young, former R&D Center Director at TSMC, emphasized that Vietnam’s talent development strategy must look beyond IC design alone. The semiconductor industry is an enormous ecosystem across design, manufacturing, process integration, packaging, testing, and even non-technical fields such as marketing, sales, operations, legal, and human resources.
“Vietnam should not focus on only a few specializations. What the industry truly needs is a diversified workforce,” he said. The ongoing talent shortage must be addressed with an applied-engineering mindset to fill all roles along the value chain.
Market Landscape
According to Statista, Vietnam’s semiconductor market is projected to reach US$24.46 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 13.73%, and is expected to scale to US$46.54 billion by 2030.
Vietnam currently hosts:
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Nearly 50 foreign corporations (from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, etc.) and more than 10 domestic enterprises (such as Viettel, FPT, CMC) in IC design;
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14 foreign companies and 1 domestic company in semiconductor packaging and testing;
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15 foreign companies supporting semiconductor materials and equipment.
Source: National Steering Committee for Semiconductor Industry Development
