AI Skills Become Critical for Workforce Readiness Amid Rapid Technological Change
A recent job fair in Ho Chi Minh City underscored the increasing necessity of AI skills in the workforce, highlighting challenges and strategies to equip students and professionals with practical AI competencies.
Key details
- 39% of current workforce skills may be obsolete by 2030 due to AI advancements.
- 71% of companies in Asia-Pacific and Middle East struggle to find qualified candidates with AI skills.
- Employers prioritize tangible results using AI over general tool familiarity.
- Students are advised to start small by applying AI to repetitive tasks to build real experience.
At the HUIT Talent Day 2026 job fair held on October 16 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, experts highlighted the urgent need for AI proficiency in today’s workforce. Dr. Nguyen Huy Cuong, head of the Center for Science and Technology Enterprise Development, discussed how advancements in artificial intelligence are reshaping essential job skills across industries. According to a World Economic Forum report cited during the event, approximately 39% of current workforce skills are expected to become obsolete by 2030.
A 2026 ManpowerGroup survey also revealed that 71% of companies in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East struggle to find qualified candidates with the right technology skills. Dr. Cuong emphasized the importance of students mastering technology relevant to their specific fields, such as data analysis in food technology and automation in engineering, noting that Vietnamese companies, in particular, lag in their data capabilities. He predicted AI proficiency will soon be as fundamental as computer literacy or English skills.
Nguyen Van Su, owner of the TikTok channel “Su AI,” echoed these insights by stressing that employers value demonstrable achievements using AI tools rather than mere familiarity with popular applications like ChatGPT or Gemini. He identified three key recruitment challenges: candidates often claiming AI competency without proof, unverified use of AI-generated content, and an overreliance on AI that undermines understanding.
Su advised students to begin applying AI to repetitive tasks within their domains, tracking time savings as practical evidence of skill development. This approach aims to bridge the gap between theoretical use and practical, results-oriented proficiency.
The event reflects a broader global trend where AI literacy is becoming indispensable for workforce readiness. With technological advances constantly transforming job requirements, educational institutions and companies alike must prioritize AI skills development to prepare the future workforce effectively.
Source articles (2)
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vietnam.vn Oct 16, 2026
Företag behöver människor som vet hur man arbetar med teknik.
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su.se Oct 16, 2026
Stort intresse och högaktuellt föredrag vid Nobel Calling
Source comparison
Event date
Sources report different dates for events.
vietnam.vn
"The job fair was held on October 16 at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade."
su.se
"A lunch lecture on the economic prize was conducted on October 13."
Why this matters: The first source states the job fair took place on October 16, 2026, while the second source mentions events occurring on October 13, 2026. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the timeline of events being reported.