Skills development

Towards a sector skills strategy for Viet Nam’s textile and garment industry: Priority skills needs, actions, and recommendations for education and training system

This report has been published under the project “Future of Work in Textile and Clothing: Forecasting and Developing Skills in Viet Nam to Advance Decent Work and Productivity in the Sector”, which is funded by the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands.

Content also available in: tiếng Việt

Since the “Doi Moi” period of reforms initiated in the 1980s, Viet Nam’s textile and garment sector has been a significant driver of national industrialization, exports and employment. As such, it created millions of jobs, especially for women, and helped shift the labour force from agriculture to manufacturing to contribute national poverty reduction efforts. Despite this progress, the industry now faces a dual challenge of maintaining its competitive edge while upgrading its value chain towards more sustainable and competitive growth underpinned by enhanced workforce skills and technological innovation.

This report provides critical insights into priority skills needs and actionable recommendations for education and training system to guide this transformation. It should be considered in conjunction with its companion report, “Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification: Analysis of the textile and garment industry in Viet Nam.”