2025: Rising Demand for AI Talent – A Golden Opportunity for Vietnamese Workers

AI – From Trend to Recruitment Reality
If 2023–2024 was considered the “trial phase” of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Vietnam, then by 2025, AI will have officially become a pillar in the development strategies of many enterprises. From technology and finance to retail and manufacturing, numerous corporations have simultaneously announced unprecedented demand for AI talent. According to ITviec’s IT market report, in Q1/2025 alone, the number of job postings related to AI/ML increased by 41% compared to the same period in 2024. At the same time, job searches with the keyword “AI” surged by 89%, showing that both companies and candidates are entering a dynamic “AI race.”

Vietnamese Companies “Thirsty” for AI Talent
Not only the IT sector but also other industries are witnessing a strong surge in demand for AI professionals. A report by TopCV revealed that 46.25% of Vietnamese companies consider hiring AI specialists a top priority this year. Meanwhile, Microsoft Vietnam’s 2025 Work Trend Index emphasized that 91% of business leaders are considering hiring AI-related roles—13 percentage points higher than the global average.

This proves that AI is no longer a “luxury” technology but has become a strategic solution to optimize operations, reduce costs, and create a competitive edge.

Attractive Salaries – The “Magnet” for Candidates
Rising demand goes hand-in-hand with increasingly competitive compensation packages. Navigos Group reported that over 50% of companies are willing to pay 10–50% higher salaries for candidates with AI skills compared to standard IT roles.

• Professional AI Trainer: around USD 2,500/month (~60 million VND)
• Basic AI-related jobs: around 20 million VND/month
• Senior and specialized roles: 40–50 million VND/month, potentially higher at multinational companies

These earnings make the AI labor market highly competitive and particularly appealing to young professionals.

AI Spreading Across Industries
According to Adecco Vietnam, AI is expanding its influence beyond the tech sector:

• Banking & Finance: customer data analysis, fraud prevention, transaction optimization
• Retail & E-commerce: predicting consumer behavior, personalizing user experiences
• Manufacturing: automating production lines, managing smart supply chains
• Media & Marketing: analyzing consumer trends, optimizing ad performance

This confirms that AI is not just the domain of IT engineers but also opens up cross-industry career opportunities for those who can apply AI tools in their work.

Challenges: Skills Gap and Limited Supply
Despite strong demand, Vietnam’s AI labor market still faces significant gaps. Many IT students mainly focus on basic programming, lacking solid foundations in machine learning, data science, or AI ethics.

Moreover, companies require not only technical expertise but also soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary communication—areas where many young candidates still fall short.

Opportunities for Candidates: How to Catch the Wave
To seize this “golden opportunity” from the AI wave, candidates - especially Gen Z - should:

• Invest in technical expertise: Python, R, SQL, machine learning, deep learning
• Earn international certifications: Google AI, Microsoft AI Fundamentals, AWS Machine Learning
• Build real-world experience: hackathons, freelance projects, and student research to enrich portfolios
• Develop soft skills: communication, time management, data storytelling
• Adopt lifelong learning: continuously update knowledge to adapt to fast-evolving technologies

Conclusion: AI – The New Career Key
In 2025, AI is no longer just a technology but has become a strategic key for recruitment and business growth in Vietnam. The surge in AI talent demand brings attractive salaries and vast career opportunities. However, this is also a tough competition, reserved for those who persistently invest in themselves and remain adaptable. Simply put, AI is a wave—and Vietnamese candidates must learn to ride it to succeed, rather than be swept away.