Vietnam failing to meet workforce demand  Vietnam receives a failing grade when it comes to producing sufficient skilled workers to meet the demands of industry, according to the latest report card from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). “As a nation we simply are not producing the type of educated productive workforce employers need,” said Nguyen Ba Ngoc from MOLISA’s Institute of Labour, Science and Social Affairs at a conference on March 27 addressing the workforce deficit. Nguyen Duc Thanh, head of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research, in turn cited opinions from Japanese experts who said Vietnamese workers lack creativity along with problem solving and communication skills.    “Most notably they lack simple problem solving skills,” said Mr Thanh and that is the essence of what business leaders in all industries across the board exist to do. “Problem solving and communication skills go hand in hand,” said Mr Thanh. In other words, said Mr Thanh, if one does not have good communication skills and the ability to express oneself clearly, they can’t solve the everyday problems encountered in the business world either as a team leader or team member "This is the fundamental reason why the nation’s productivity is far below that of Japan and only one-fifteenth that of Singapore and it very well may be the nemesis of Vietnam’s economic growth," said Mr Thanh. Last year, an estimated 100,000 workers were sent on apprenticeships to Japan but after returning home, they could not find gainful employment in their chosen field because they failed to pass muster and measure up to the required standards of employers. VOV