Recruitment demand is on the rise

Observing the current recruitment situation at job service centers within the city, it can be seen that the tourism, service, restaurant, and hotel industries have a demand for hiring personnel, focusing on positions such as room attendants, culinary staff, banquet supervisors, receptionists, and janitors. Many businesses are also directly contacting educational institutions to swiftly find labor resources. For example, on the Zalo group page "Connecting Job Opportunities at CTC with Businesses" by Can Tho College of Tourism, numerous businesses have recently posted job recruitment information. For instance, Hoa Su Restaurant is seeking employees for reception, service, and banquet supervision with a monthly salary range of 3-4.5 million Vietnamese dong; Nesta Hotel - Cantho is looking to hire staff for service and housekeeping.

Mr. Truong Van Vinh, the Director of IDO Travel Company Limited in Can Tho, states: "To prepare for the summer tourism season, all units have a demand for recruitment. Currently, my company has 9 full-time employees, and we are collaborating with about 45 freelance workers. In addition to utilizing external freelance teams, we are also in need of recruiting 3 sales staff."

During the summer of 2023, SOHA GROUP, a domestic and international travel company, will focus on beach travel programs, such as Can Tho - Phu Quy Island, Can Tho - Phan Thiet routes, etc. Ms. Nguyen Giang So Ha, the CEO of SOHA GROUP, mentioned that the company needs recruiting personnel for managing international tours, visa consultancy, handling tours for foreign visitors coming to Vietnam, airline ticket consultancy, and program design consultants. Currently, the company is still advertising job openings on various online platforms and receiving many applications; however, they have not yet found the desired candidates. To explain this situation, according to Ms. Nguyen Giang So Ha and the opinions of many businesses and travel agencies, they believe that in the context of recovery after the pandemic, the tourism industry's demand for recruitment has increased. Along with good job opportunities and income, the requirements for the quality of human resources have become more stringent. The common trend among businesses is to seek employees with professional skills, knowledge, and attitude. Furthermore, the language proficiency requirements for employees are also rising.

Improving the Quality of Human Resources

In the area of Can Tho City, there are currently several universities offering majors related to tourism, such as Can Tho University, Nam Can Tho University, and Tay Do University. Among them, Can Tho College of Tourism stands out as an institution specializing in tourism education. In addition to investing in infrastructure, these universities have been and are continuously enhancing the quality of education, strengthening connections with businesses in training, and addressing employment opportunities for graduates.

In May 2023, Can Tho College of Tourism collaborated to organize the event "Book Fair & Talk Show: Adapting Tourism Personnel in the Digital Transformation Phase." During this program, nearly 600 students and participants had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers sharing insights about the current favorable conditions and challenges in the tourism industry. The discussions also covered the issues related to personnel adaptation during the digital transformation phase… Alongside this event, over the years, Can Tho College of Tourism has consistently shown interest in improving the competence of its faculty, particularly in keeping up-to-date with new trends in the tourism industry. The college invests in facilities and equipment for teaching, practical training, and internships. Regularly, they organize field trips for students to explore the real environment and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with businesses. In the training program, the proportion of practical experience always exceeds 70% with the principle of "learning a profession must involve practical application." Ms. Nguyen Minh Tho, the Principal of Can Tho College of Tourism, shares: "To enhance the quality of education, every year, the university is committed to renewing the training programs, inviting businesses to contribute their opinions on relevant majors, to create opportunities for students to find employment and meet the demands of the labor market."

According to the report from the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho City, the total number of laborers in the tourism sector in 2022 was approximately 9,677 people, which decreased by 7% compared to 2020. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism workforce declined, and tourism businesses had to hire new employees, resulting in a shortage of experienced personnel who could meet the demand for high-quality tourism services. Skilled labor with professional expertise, vocational skills, and fluency in foreign languages is still lacking.

Considering the future development orientation of tourism, it is forecasted that the demand for tourism labor in the period from 2023 to 2030 will be around 16,000 people in the city. Among them, the demand for labor in accommodation facilities is estimated to be around 11,200 people, and in travel agencies, it is around 1,100 people. Therefore, building and developing a high-quality workforce are crucial tasks to enhance the sustainable development of tourism in the city. Alongside the existing training institutions, the tourism sector of the city has established various programs, projects, and plans to gradually improve the labor force. The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has strengthened the training, workshops, and professional development for tourism-related skills and foreign languages for laborers. The local community is also encouraged to participate in tourism activities, particularly community-based tourism and responsible tourism activities that prioritize environmental protection. Additionally, measures are being implemented to attract professionally trained tourism personnel from universities and colleges in the city.