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DIGITAL BIZ
Staffing shortfall
Vietnam clearly has potential in developing a semiconductor
industry but it must address its lack of suitable human resources.
By NHI ANH
“To advance the semiconductor
sector, Vietnam requires a highly- ise are challenges in supply chains and a
skilled workforce to attract FDI
into the field. The vision is for
Vietnam to lead in chip design
technology, with a wealth of
experienced professionals in
design, packaging, and circuit
testing. This would give rise to
numerous semiconductor design
firms in Vietnam engaged in
designing and bringing products
to market, thereby stimulating the
semiconductor industry’s growth.”
Associate Professor Pham Tran Vu
Vice Rector of the Ho Chi Minh City
University of Technology
38 Vietnam Economic Times May 1, 2024
compound growth rate (CAGR) of 14 per
cent. Major economies like the US, South
Korea, Japan, China, and EU members
have all unveiled initiatives to bolster the
semiconductor manufacturing. The indus-
try currently employs over 2 million work-
ers directly, with 1 million more to be
employed by 2030 in segments such as
design, manufacturing, assembly, pack-
aging, and testing.
Addressing a recent seminar on the
development of a semiconductor workforce,
Associate Professor Truong Viet Anh, Head
of the Science and Technology Department
at the Hanoi University of Science and
Technology, said Vietnam currently has
around 5,000 semiconductor engineers,
primarily specializing in design and testing.
With expected growth in annual demand
of 10-15 per cent, Vietnam will need to
have 50,000 semiconductor engineers by
2030, with 10,000 to be trained each year.
Industry experts have said that Vietnam
stands at a significant juncture in advancing
its semiconductor sector, benefiting from
the presence of numerous global conglom-
erates and local startups. However, its
involvement is limited to certain early and
final-stage activities, and it lacks the nec-
essary manufacturing facilities.
In terms of design, Vietnam boasts
six companies, including Viettel’s VHT,
FPT Semiconductor, InfraSen, VnChip,
Wavelet, and Hyphen Deux, while approx-
imately 40 foreign players from Japan,
the US, Taiwan (China), and South Korea
contribute around 5,600 engineers in the
ietnam is recognized as a country design phase.
with abundant opportunities and In testing and packaging, Vietnam is
V the necessary prerequisites for fos- progressively becoming an attractive des-
tering the growth of a semiconductor tination for major corporations looking
ecosystem. This makes it an attractive des- to relocate their operations. Others have
tination for investment and offers the been here for some time. The Intel plant
potential for it to elevate its position and has been operational since 2009, with
profile within the global semiconductor close to 3,000 engineers, alongside the
supply chain. However, alongside the prom- Amkor factory in northern Bac Ninh
province and Hana Micron Vina Company
shortage of chip engineers and other skilled in neighboring Bac Giang province,
workers to support development. employing an estimated 4,000 people.
The semiconductor sector has a pivotal According to a National Innovation
role to play for many industries, and Center report, if the projected demand
draws interest worldwide. Projections for semiconductor engineers reaches 50,000
suggest it could generate revenue in excess by 2030, approximately 204,000 jobs will
of $620 billion beyond 2024 and $1 trillion be generated directly and indirectly.
by 2030. Known for its attractiveness in semi-
It is also considered a cornerstone in conductor investments, Bac Giang has
the technological competition between three manufacturers in its industrial parks,
global powers in the 21st century. In Viet- according to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ngoc,
nam, forecasts indicate that a semicon- Deputy Head of the Industrial Park Man-
ductor industry could achieve a scale of agement Board.
$20-30 billion by 2030. There are currently 8,074 workers
employed in semiconductor enterprises
10,000 engineers in need each year around the province. These enterprises
The semiconductor chip market has anticipate hiring an additional 1,866 work-
posted consistent and rapid growth over ers this year, with a further 6,300 to be
the past two decades, boasting an annual recruited between 2025 and 2030.
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