Talent Shortage in APAC Persists with 77% of Employers
Facing Challenges in Filling Positions
VIETNAM (7 FEBRUARY 2025) – The 2025 ManpowerGroup's latest Talent Shortage Survey reveals that nearly four in five employers in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region are struggling to find skilled talent, with 77% reporting difficulties. This marks a significant increase from 45% in 2014 and exceeds the global average of 74%, underscoring a growing concern for employers across diverse industries.
The survey, which gathered insights from 10,095 employers across APAC, indicates that the most difficult to find skills are IT & Data (32%), Engineering (27%), and Sales & Marketing (24%). According to the report, the APAC IT sector was experiencing the highest level of talent scarcity, with 81% of employers in the APAC IT sector noting they are facing talent shortage, underscoring the need for skilled professionals as businesses increasingly rely on technology and digital transformation.
“The persistent talent shortages highlighted by this report suggests the talent shortage has become a structural feature of the regional labor market which employers must navigate, especially in the IT sector where the shortage is being most heavily realized,” said Mr. François Lançon, Regional President of Asia Pacific & Middle East, ManpowerGroup.
“In a talent short market, employers must act quickly and decisively to secure the necessary skills for growth or commit to developing the talent they need internally through a targeted learning and development program,” Mr.Lançon said. “At ManpowerGroup, we are committed to addressing the skills gap and upskilling talent at scale, we are investing in academies to prepare the workforce for future jobs.
The report suggests the need for internal learning and development programs is being taken seriously with 35% of companies indicating they are focusing on upskilling and reskilling their current workforce to bridge skill gaps.
EMPLOYER RESPONSE TO TALENT SHORTAGES
The survey reveals organizations are taking multiple approaches to address talent scarcity:
35% - Prioritizing upskilling and reskilling current employees
30% - Increasing wages
26% - Offering more schedule flexibility
25% - Targeting new talent pools
21% - Offering more location flexibility
“As businesses navigate these ongoing talent challenges, it is more crucial than ever that industry leaders, governments and educational institutions collaborate to ensure that future generations are equipped with relevant skills,” Mr.Lançon said.
In Vietnam, to address the issue of skilled labor shortages, industry leaders need to come up with innovative solutions while accompanying workers. "According to Manpower Vietnam's observations, the labor shortage, especially in the short term, is most evident in the manufacturing and processing industry." Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang, Head of Manpower brand, ManpowerGroup Vietnam, shared. "One of the solutions that Manpower Vietnam has implemented and found effective is directly providing fast-track vocational training for workers before onboarding. This approach not only increases job opportunities for unskilled workers but also saves time and costs for businesses. In the long term, Manpower Vietnam will also actively collaborate with training institutions nationwide to provide career guidance and nurture talent pools early on, contributing to the development of a sustainable domestic workforce.”
For more information about ManpowerGroup's 2025 Talent Shortage Survey, please visit: https://manpower.com.vn/talent-shortage-survey-2025
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ABOUT THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY
ManpowerGroup interviewed 40,413 employers in 42 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Türkiye, U.K., and the U.S.
The fieldwork was completed between October 1st and 31st, 2024 in all markets.
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for more than 75 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality, and Disability, and in 2024 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the 15th time – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
For more information, visitwww.manpowergroup.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
ABOUT MANPOWERGROUP VIETNAM
ManpowerGroup is the leading global recruitment, staffing and outsourcing company in Vietnam, operating in the country since 2008. We are the first 100% foreign invested company licensed to provide recruitment, staffing and outsourcing services by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) since our first footprints in Vietnam. With our thorough understanding of staffing trends and our deep pool of highly qualified candidates, Manpower can deliver the talent, matching the right individual to the right job – faster and with better business results.
For more information, visit www.manpower.com.vn, or follow us on LinkedInand Facebook.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding labor demand in certain regions, countries, and industries, and economic uncertainty. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. These factors include those found in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including the information under the heading "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which information is incorporated herein by reference. ManpowerGroup disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements in this release, except as required by law.
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