Vietnam Shifts National Strategy Toward 'Creative Labour' to Drive Growth
Party General Secretary Tô Lâm calls for a systemic transition from low-cost labor to a knowledge-based economy under Resolution 57.
Vietnam is initiating a fundamental transition of its national workforce from "simple labour" to "creative labour" to secure its future economic competitiveness. Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm announced the shift during a meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Science, Technology, Innovation Development and Digital Transformation in Hà Nội.
This strategic pivot is the central goal and primary measure of the Politburo's Resolution 57. The initiative seeks to transform the entire national workforce—including workers, officials, and farmers—into a resource based on technology and knowledge. To oversee this transition, the Central Steering Committee for Science, Technology, Innovation Development and Digital Transformation has been restructured; it now consists of 31 members and is headed by Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng.
A New Economic Paradigm
For years, Vietnam's manufacturing growth was largely driven by an abundance of low-cost, simple labor. However, the nation is now entering a new development phase aimed at avoiding the middle-income trap. The government is moving away from this reliance on cheap labor in favor of a high-tech, innovation-led economy. According to Tô Lâm, "Creative labour must become the nation’s most important resource in the future," signaling that innovation must move beyond selected fields to encompass society as a whole.
Systemic Operational Changes
This shift requires more than just a change in workforce skills; it demands a total overhaul of how the state operates. The strategy emphasizes a move from "managing progress" to "managing outcomes." Under this new framework, every task must have a clear definition of the problem, a specified final product, and rigorous evaluation criteria.
This transformation extends to the grassroots and administrative levels. The government envisions a future where farmers evolve into "digital farmers" and state officials abandon a traditional management mindset in favor of one focused on enabling development. By prioritizing the commercialization of research and integrating innovation across all sectors, Vietnam aims to increase its global standing.
The Path Forward
As the government implements Resolution 57, the focus will remain on whether these high-level directives translate into scalable industrial output. The success of the transition depends on the ability of the 31-member steering committee to synchronize digital transformation with actual economic gains. Observers will be watching for the first wave of "digital farmers" and the measurable outcomes of the new outcome-based management system to determine if Vietnam can successfully pivot its economic engine.