The southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City is set to face intense competition over human resources once the integrated ASEAN Economic Community takes shape later this year, heard a seminar in the city on August 25. Upon joining the ASEAN Economic Community, the number of job openings in Vietnam will surge 14.5 percent, predominantly in the areas of rice production, construction, transport, garment and food processing, said Vice Director of the municipal Centre for Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Tran Anh Tuan. From 2015-2025, the availability of medium-skilled jobs is forecast to rise at the fastest pace, up to 28 percent. Demand for low and high-skilled jobs will go up 23 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Analysing human resources development trend, Director of the municipal World Trade Organisation Affairs Consultation Centre Pham Binh An said more jobs are being made available in industrial parks and services while those in State-owned enterprises are trimmed due to business restructuring and equitisation. Trained workforce prove more competent, and more and more local youths are attending career orientation courses in anticipation of the regional integration, he added. Experts pointed out two major weaknesses in the Vietnamese labour market, including low productivity and shortage of soft skills such as teamwork, foreign languages, spoken communications and work ethics. ASEAN Economic Community member states have pushed for greater labour mobility in the region by recognising education obtained by workers in eight professions, including doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, architects, accountants, surveyors and those in the tourism industry. Hi-quality workforce, including those having bachelor degrees and good command of English, are allowed to freely migrate for employment. Amid such challenges, participants at the event suggested improving manpower management bodies and providing a number of incentives for workers, among others. The event was hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies.-VNA