Is Vietnam’s apparel growth story running into a labour crunch?

Vietnam’s textile and garment exports rose to an estimated $4.672 billion in July 2026, with seven-month shipments at $27.02 billion.
Labour shortages are emerging as 130,000-150,000 Vietnamese reportedly take overseas jobs each year, while electronics and machinery firms compete for workers.
Garment factories may struggle to meet order deadlines or secure new contracts if manpower gaps persist.Vietnam’s textile and garment exports rose to an estimated $4.672 billion in July 2026, with seven-month shipments at $27.02 billion.
Labour shortages are emerging as 130,000-150,000 Vietnamese reportedly take overseas jobs each year, while electronics and machinery firms compete for workers.
Garment factories may struggle to meet order deadlines or secure new contracts if manpower gaps persist.