Vietnam’s IT job market is experiencing a paradox: companies struggle to find highly skilled professionals, while there is an abundance of candidates with only basic coding abilities.

According to recent reports, many IT applicants are missing essential skills beyond programming. These include communication (57.3%), critical thinking (39.7%), and product mindset (33.6%).

Although the demand for IT workers is still growing—with over 66% of companies increasing hiring in 2025 and nearly 70% planning to do so in 2026—the market has become more selective. At the same time, about one-third of employers say AI has improved productivity, reducing the need to expand teams.

The rise of advanced technology sectors such as AI, fintech, and big data is also shifting hiring priorities. Companies now favor candidates with deep, specialized expertise rather than fresh graduates with limited practical experience.

This shift has made job hunting more challenging for many young developers. For example, a recent graduate in Ho Chi Minh City applied to nearly ten positions over six months but was repeatedly rejected or offered salaries below expectations, despite having a decent academic background and some hands-on experience.

Overall, while Vietnam’s IT industry still appears to be “short on talent,” the real shortage lies in high-quality, well-rounded professionals—not in entry-level programmers with basic coding skills.