Between 2020 and 2023, Ho Chi Minh City saw 9,470 civil servants and public employees resign, with 42.09% from the education sector, 43.04% from healthcare, and nearly 15% from other fields.

Over 9,000 officials resign in three years

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City reported these figures during a March 14 monitoring session by the city's National Assembly delegation on implementing policies for workforce development, particularly high-quality human resources, from 2021 to 2024.

Of the 9,470 individuals who left, 855 were civil servants, while 8,615 were public employees. Among them, the education sector accounted for 3,626 resignations (42.09%), healthcare for 3,708 (43.04%), and the remaining 1,281 (14.87%) came from other public service fields.

Notably, those with university degrees made up the largest proportion of resignations at 77.07%.

According to the city's People's Committee, the primary reason for resignations is inadequate salary policies that fail to provide a sufficient standard of living or motivate employees to continue working in the public sector. Meanwhile, private organizations and businesses offer significantly more attractive salary packages, creating stiff competition for highly skilled professionals.

"Given the current income levels, workload, and responsibilities, many civil servants and public employees are willing to leave their jobs for better salaries and career growth opportunities in the private sector," the report stated.

Additionally, work-related pressure is another major factor driving employees away from the public sector.

Heavy workload and public scrutiny contribute to resignations

Ho Chi Minh City has the highest population density in Vietnam. While an average district nationwide serves approximately 137,000 residents, in Ho Chi Minh City, that number rises to 441,000.

This means that, under normal circumstances, each government employee in the city is responsible for serving 3.2 times more residents than their counterparts in other parts of the country.

Furthermore, the recent strict enforcement of accountability in public service has led to a growing sense of caution among officials, fearing mistakes that could result in disciplinary action.

The People's Committee also noted that employees in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and social welfare, especially at the grassroots level, often work more than eight hours a day and sometimes even on holidays. This reduces their time with family, leading to frustration and, ultimately, resignations.

Retaining talent with special policies

Some National Assembly delegates suggested that to retain high-quality personnel, the city should not only focus on salary reforms and career advancement opportunities but also improve the work environment.

Given Ho Chi Minh City's unique characteristics, policymakers emphasized the importance of not only training local talent but also attracting skilled workers from other provinces and ensuring they stay in the city.

Former Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan stated that without immigrants, the city's workforce would have shrunk over the past 20 years rather than grown.

He pointed out that the city faces a low birth rate, rapid population aging, and insufficient workforce replenishment from local sources, making it dependent on migrant workers. Therefore, a dedicated policy for immigrant workers should be a priority.

"Ho Chi Minh City's human resources strategy should address three key issues: encouraging higher birth rates, supporting the existing workforce, and attracting skilled labor from other regions," Nhan proposed.

Salary expectations versus job market reality

Between 2021 and 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Manpower Demand Forecast and Labor Market Information (Falmi) surveyed over 144,000 job seekers annually.

The results revealed that 31.76% of job seekers aimed for salaries exceeding $850 per month (20 million VND), making it the most desired pay range.

Meanwhile, 25.83% preferred salaries between $213 and $426 (5-10 million VND), and only 3.64% accepted salaries below $213 (5 million VND).

On the employer side, of the 285,000 job openings surveyed, only 9.77% offered salaries above $850 per month, making it the least available wage category.

The majority of job postings (44.47%) offered salaries between $213 and $426, while 11.37% of jobs paid less than $213 per month.

Ho Van