The survey, based on responses from 265 companies nationwide, found that Vietnam's Net Employment Outlook (NEO) stood at +28 percent, down 19 percentage points from the previous quarter.
Despite the decline, Vietnam remains one of the region's stronger labor markets, with an NEO matching the average for Asia-Pacific and the Middle East (28 percent) and exceeding the global average of 26 percent.
Conducted between April 1 and April 30, 2026, the survey gathered responses from more than 40,500 employers across 42 countries and territories. In Vietnam, 49 percent of surveyed employers said they planned to increase hiring in the third quarter, while 21 percent expected to reduce staffing and 27 percent intended to maintain their current workforce.
Businesses in Vietnam are taking a cautious approach to workforce planning as they balance staffing needs against rising energy costs and global uncertainties. However, the overall hiring outlook remains positive, said Nguyen Thu Trang, Brand Director at Manpower Vietnam.
