With the increasingly powerful development of digital technology and artificial intelligence today, robots along with other digital technology applications are gradually replacing humans in many different job categories. This trend is leading to a rising unemployment rate, leaving students wondering which field to choose to avoid being affected by this wave.

On January 14, 2024, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) organized the 17th annual Career Guidance and Enrollment Consultation Day. The program was part of the "Decide Your Future Together" event in 2024, organized by the school in collaboration with the Education Magazine of Ho Chi Minh City. The event brought together over 6,500 students from high schools in Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

Vietnam's labor market is developing along four main trends. Participating in the program, Nguyen Gia Bao Thy from Thu Duc High School asked the advisory board: "Unemployment is increasing due to the development of artificial intelligence. I don't know which field of study is easy to find employment in."

In response to the student's question, Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association, said: The current labor market is undergoing significant changes, with artificial intelligence impacting almost every field, altering the structure and quality of the workforce in the coming period, leading to a rising unemployment rate. However, the world and Vietnam's labor market are facing a significant shortage of a particular workforce, which is digital labor. The current labor market is developing along four main trends:

The labor market is increasingly based on technology, with jobs being closely linked to technology and interacting with it.

Besides professional expertise, over 68% of jobs in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam are associated with soft skills and vocational skills. These skills will be decisive factors in personal development within each individual's job.
Low-skilled labor will be at a disadvantage and almost eliminated, making way for highly skilled labor to meet the demands of the growing digital technology penetrating every industry.

Career trends will gradually expand into the state civil service system, foreign investment, private enterprises, and labor export, especially in entrepreneurship.

From these four trends, we can conclude that the current trend in the labor market is high-quality labor, digital labor, labor capable of quickly adapting to technological changes, along with ethics, discipline, and soft skills. Those who meet these requirements will succeed. Regardless of the chosen field or university, students need to strive to become high-quality labor, digital labor to ensure employment and successful development.

How to Ensure the Highest Admission Rate?

Many students participating in the program were concerned about how to ensure the highest admission rate. Associate Professor Truong Nguyen Luan Vu, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, shared: When considering admissions, students should follow the principle of "casting a wide net", meaning diversifying the methods of admission. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education implements five admission methods:

Admission based on high school transcripts.

Admission based on the results of the 2024 high school graduation exam.

Admission based on the results of the National University Entrance Examination of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024.
Direct admission, prioritizing direct admission.

Organizing aptitude tests for admission to four majors: Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Architecture, Interior Architecture.

Therefore, students can consider choosing multiple admission methods to increase their chances of admission. Additionally, students should assess their own abilities when choosing a field of study and a university. It is advisable to prioritize choosing a field of study that suits oneself first, then selecting a suitable university based on one's abilities for admission.