Le Phuong Phuong, a senior training expert, said that according to statistics from Vietnamwork.com, highly qualified human resources only meet 30-40 percent of businesses’ demands. The labour market shows a scarcity of directors and experts. Many companies want to employ managers but find it difficult to recruit for such positions. Some businesses offer salaries (after tax) of at least US$1,500 per month and other benefits but still cannot attract suitable employees.

At a recent seminar for Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, Tran Van Dung, director of Tin Nghia Ltd said this phenomenon is due to two main reasons. A highly-qualified human resource system is weak and businesses do not consider personnel as a strategic task. Most limited and joint-stock companies have not paid due attention to personnel organization or training. Little has seen in terms of analyzing the need for training, building training plans, organizing training or evaluating training results. They do not outline specific regulations on the ability of individuals or the organization as a whole.

Tran Khiem Hung, an expert from Sinh Viet who is currently attending a CEO course at the Development Economic Research Institute of the Ho Chi Minh City Economics University, said personel training is a key issue for business development during the integration process. To have enough highly qualified employees, businesses have to pay more attention to training and development so that they can fulfill the targets set for this year. Highly-qualified human resources play a key role in helping businesses operate effectively.

Mr Hung proposed specific solutions for preparing highly qualified human resources. Businesses have to identify a number of staff for each position who meet specific requirements have requisite qualifications and relevant experience as well as potential candidates for new positions, and from that devise training plans.

Training can be carried out by two methods: businesses organise training courses by themselves or coordinate with other units to organise. For example, Tin Nghia Company invited the Development Economic Research Institute of the Ho Chi Minh City Economics University to organise a CEO training course for key officials. To finish the course, trainees had to develop business strategies and plans for the company.

Mr Hung said businesses should outline self-study requirements, which become criteria for reward, pay rise and promotion.

Ms Phuong also said creating favourable conditions for staff to study is necessary. Businesses should set up a library, organise seminars and encourage their staff learn on the Internet.

Some experts said that businesses should recruit foreigners in high positions. However, there remain some obstacles that need to be solved in connection with payment accommodation, means of transport and business culture.