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Students receive career guidance at a job fair in Bac Giang Province, northern Vietnam, February 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hong Chieu |
In February 2025, Bac Giang Province played host to a significant job fair that captured the attention of many young people looking for employment opportunities. With the support of local organizations and educational institutions, this event offered essential career counseling to students, many of whom are transitioning from academic life to the professional world.
The job fair comes at a crucial time, as the General Statistics Office (GSO) recently released its labor and employment report for the first quarter of 2025. One of the notable highlights is the increase of 84,400 jobs compared to the previous quarter, showing a pulse of optimism in the labor market. However, a year-on-year decrease of 66,900 jobs raises concerns about the overall employment landscape.
A deeper dive into the statistics reveals a troubling trend for young people, particularly in rural areas where the proportion of youth not in employment or training stands at an alarming 11.7%. In contrast, urban areas reflect a slightly lower rate of 8.2%. Gender disparities also emerge, with 11.5% of women and 9.3% of men struggling to find work. The unemployment rate for the youth demographic is reported at 7.93%, a figure that, while having dipped slightly, still highlights ongoing challenges.
During the Lunar New Year period, the labor market typically experiences fluctuations, which are mirrored in the GSO’s findings. Although there are signs of recovery in early 2025, with the total workforce for individuals aged 15 and over reaching 52.9 million—an increase of 532,000 from the same period last year—the context suggests a complex narrative of growth tempered by significant gaps in employment among specific groups.
Of particular interest is the distribution of employment across various sectors. The services sector continues to dominate, employing approximately 40.7% (21.1 million workers). This growth is remarkable, reflecting an increase of nearly 600,000 workers compared to last year. In contrast, the industrial and construction sectors saw a decline, with 17.3 million workers representing 33.3% of the workforce, while agriculture, forestry, and fisheries accounted for 13.5 million employees, or 26%.
Income statistics reveal a more positive outlook, as average monthly earnings for workers rose to VND8.3 million ($321). This marks an increase of VND131,000 (1.6%) from the previous quarter and a notable VND720,000 rise year-on-year. The income gap between urban and rural workers remains significant, with urban workers earning VND10.1 million compared to VND7.2 million for their rural counterparts.
Exciting gains in worker income were recorded in several provinces. For instance, Vinh Phuc Province reported an impressive average worker income of VND9.9 million per month, a VND1 million increase. Service workers top the income chart with an average of VND9.9 million, reflecting a rise of VND832,000 from the previous year. In the agricultural sector, earnings climbed to an average of VND4.9 million, while those employed in industry and construction earned an average of VND9.1 million, marking a VND690,000 increase.
Additionally, the finance, banking, and insurance industry stands out with an average income of VND13.9 million, further illustrating the disparities in earning potential across sectors. This data serves as a powerful indicator of the ongoing shifts in Vietnam’s labor market, revealing both opportunities and challenges that workers face as they navigate their careers in a rapidly evolving environment.