Generative AI reshapes work patterns in Viet Nam

A new International Labour Organization (ILO) brief finds that generative AI could affect around 11.5 million workers in Viet Nam, or about one in five employees, mainly through changes in tasks rather than job losses.

The report highlights that full automation risk remains limited, affecting less than two percent of the workforce.

Exposure to GenAI is uneven across sectors and occupations, with clerical roles most at risk and financial services, retail and ICT also highly exposed. Major urban centres such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang account for more than a third of potentially affected jobs.

The report also identifies a clear gender gap, with women more exposed to GenAI-related disruption than men due to their concentration in clerical and service roles.

Despite this, employment in highly exposed sectors has continued to grow between 2022 and 2024, suggesting that AI adoption remains in an early phase and is not yet reducing overall labour demand.

The ILO calls for coordinated policy action to manage the transition, including stronger AI governance, improved labour market data, responsible adoption through social dialogue and investment in skills development.

It also stresses the importance of gender-responsive policies to ensure that the benefits of AI-driven productivity gains are distributed more evenly.

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