Dong Nai enterprises to recruit 173,000 workers in 2026

Enterprises across southern Dong Nai province are expected to recruit approximately 173,000 workers in 2026 to meet production demands, according to the Provincial Employment Service Center.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, recruitment demand is estimated at 35,000 employees. This surge is primarily driven by plans to ramp up production and fulfill export orders following the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

High demand for labor is concentrated in key sectors, including textiles and garments, footwear, construction, wood processing, mechanical engineering, and electronics. Notably, several footwear companies are seeking large-scale recruitment, with some individual units requiring up to 1,000 new workers.

To bridge the gap between labor supply and demand, the Dong Nai Employment Service Center is innovating its job fair formats. The center is also strengthening coordination with local authorities through a network of employment support collaborators across 95 communes and wards.

Furthermore, the center is partnering with colleges and vocational schools to implement "Job Corners" for students. This initiative aims to expand the labor supply and better meet the specific hiring needs of local businesses.

Recruitment activities are also being integrated with social welfare goals, prioritizing support for laborers in border communes, ethnic communities, members of impoverished households, and skilled workers whose expertise aligns with the province's economic development strategy.

Reflecting on 2025 performance, the center received recruitment requests from over 7,700 enterprises for a total of 166,000 positions. Consequently, the province successfully placed approximately 131,000 workers, reaching 105% of the annual target—a 21.7% increase compared to the previous year.

Alongside the active labor market, investment attraction in the province remains robust. From the beginning of the year to January 20, 2026, total domestic investment in industrial parks, economic zones, and external areas reached approximately VND10.9 trillion ($418 million), accounting for 6.8% of the annual plan.

Regarding business development, January 2026 saw the total registered capital for new and expanded businesses reach over VND12.2 trillion (nearly $468 million), representing a 44.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025.