1.63 million people step onto employment ladder in 2017

Of that figure, more than 1.5 million people found domestic employment opportunities and over 135,000 people found placement abroad.

The number of salaried State employees reached an estimated 43% of the country’s total employees.

The unemployment rate among people of working age living in urban areas dropped to 3.18%, while the rate of trained workers was 56%, of whom 22.5% had received certificates of qualification

Regarding potential labour export markets for this year, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep says the Ministry has set a target of sending 110,000 workers overseas, to meet high demand in places such as Japan and Taiwan (China) who are looking to recruit the large number of guest workers.

To fulfil its targets for 2018, a score of measures will be taken with a focus on facilitating the systematic improvement and operation of the labour market, and strengthening labour market research, necessitate forecast and data analysis, Mr Diep emphasizes.

Improvement in the quality of the employment service organization system, export market expansion managing stricter management and better protections for the rights of Vietnamese guest workers overseas are also this year’s major tasks, he says.

The ministry is projected to reduce unemployment rate in urban areas below 4% and increase the rate of trained workers to 58-60%.