Vietnam Q4 unemployment rises to 2.32%
Vietnam’s unemployment rate inched up 0.04 percentage points from the third quarter of this year to 2.32% in the fourth quarter, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.
The Q4 figures for 2021 and 2022 were 3.56% and 2.63%, respectively.
Overall, in 2022, the unemployment rate reached 2.32%, ranging from 2.79% in the urban areas to 2.03% in rural area. Notably, the unemployment rate was high at 7.72% for young people (age between 15 and 24). The whole-year underemployment rate was 2.21%.

Vietnam's workforce expanded 2.17% year-on-year to 51.66 million in 2022. Photo courtesy of Vingroup.
Amid the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery, the workforce rose 239,400, or 0.5%, to 52.13 million from Q3 to Q4. Overall, the country’s workforce expanded 2.17% year-on-year to 51.66 million in 2022.
Of 50.6 million employed people, 13.91 million worked in the agriculture-forestry-fisheries sector, or 27.5% of the total; 16.97 million in industry and construction, or 33.6%; and 19.69 million in the service sector, or 38.9%.
The average monthly income of contracted laborers reached VND7.5 million ($317), up by VND992,000 or 15.24% year-on-year.
Workforce readiness
According to the GSO, Vietnam now runs 1,905 vocational training establishments. The system recruited 2.43 million people this year, exceeding the target by 16.5%. In the year, 2.1 million vocational training learners graduated, or 14.9% beyond the target.
The labor productivity reached $8,083 per worker in 2022, up by $622 or 4.8% after a year. The GSO attributed the development to the higher capacity of laborers, indicated by the rate of certified workers at 26.2%, up 0.1 percentage points year-on-year.
According to ManpowerGroup's Total Workforce Index™ 2022 report, Vietnam ranks 47th out of 60 global labor markets, and 11th among 11 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The index measures relatively ease of sourcing, hiring and retaining a workforce in competitive labor markets around the world.
Millennials and Gen Zers make up nearly one third of the country's workforce - about 65%. Boasting a young and abundant labor supply when many countries are struggling to solve the problem of aging population is one of the reasons why the Vietnam’s labor market is well considered by foreign investors, ManpowerGroup said.
Skill level is one of the areas of improvement for Vietnamese workers to catch up with other markets. Despite the high rate of net secondary education (about 88%), highly skilled workers make up only 11.67%, almost unchanged from three years ago.
According to the Vietnam Total Workforce Index 2022, the proportion of Vietnamese workers who are proficient in English accounts for only 5% of the total workforce.
- Read More
Thailand, Indonesia elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership
Thailand and Indonesia have declared the elevation of bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership following a high-level meeting in Bangkok on Monday between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Southeast Asia - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 11:01 pm GMT+7
Indonesia backs WTO efforts to ease global trade tensions
Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso has affirmed Indonesia’s support for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to ease trade tensions and discourage countries from taking unilateral maneuvers detrimental to the multilateral trade system.
Southeast Asia - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 10:59 pm GMT+7
Indonesia eyes to become world’s second biggest coffee producer
Indonesia is focusing on increasing domestic coffee production, with the goal of overtaking Vietnam as the world’s second-largest coffee producer, according to Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan.
Southeast Asia - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 10:57 pm GMT+7
Vietnam okays property developer Sun Group’s airline project
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Tuesday gave in-principle approval to the establishment of Sun PhuQuoc Airways (SPA) by Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s top real estate developers.
Investing - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 8:59 pm GMT+7
Vietnam to build one international financial center operating in two cities
Vietnam seeks to develop one international financial center that will operate in Ho Chi Minh City and Danang, says Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh.
Economy - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 7:47 pm GMT+7
China’s electronics giant BYD plans expansion at northern Vietnam plant
BYD, a supplier of Apple, is seeking to expand operations at its VND9.5 trillion ($366 million) plant in Vietnam’s northern province of Phu Tho to meet growing market demands for new products.
Industries - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 7:36 pm GMT+7
Vietnam, US in second round of reciprocal trade pact talks
Vietnam and the U.S. began their second round of negotiations on a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington D.C. on Monday (May 19, U.S. time).
Economy - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 4:33 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province Binh Dinh targets semiconductor, AI hub status
The south-central province of Binh Dinh aims to become a key hub for semiconductors, AI, and cybersecurity in Vietnam by 2030.
Industries - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 2:44 pm GMT+7
Property heavyweight Sun Group proposes more major investments in southern Vietnam
Sun Group, one of Vietnam’s top real estate developers, has proposed a slate of investments in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, focusing on commercial, tourism, and urban development.
Real Estate - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 2:09 pm GMT+7
HSBC facilitates five-year green club loan for Gamuda Land
HSBC Vietnam, in collaboration with Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and UOB Vietnam, has announced to provide a five-year green club loan for Tam Luc Real Estate Corporation, a unit of Malaysian property developer Gamuda Land.
Banking - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 1:13 pm GMT+7
Japanese, Middle East firms eye $6 bln energy investment in HCMC
Several international corporations on Monday signed strategic cooperation agreements to develop two energy projects totaling $6 billion in Ho Chi Minh City.
Energy - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 11:50 am GMT+7
Thailand slashes growth forecast amidst US tariffs
Thailand has lowered its economic growth forecast this year due to trade disruptions stemming from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Southeast Asia - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 9:07 am GMT+7
PV Gas subsidiary feeds LNG to Korean chaebol HS Hyosung in central Vietnam
CNG Vietnam JSC (PV Gas CNG), a subsidiary of PV Gas, has officially commenced the initial phase of liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivery to HS Hyosung Quang Nam under South Korean chaebol HS Hyosung in central Vietnam.
Companies - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 9:04 am GMT+7
Vietnam's leading developer Novaland plans share issuance for debt conversion
Novaland, a major real estate developer in Vietnam, plans to issue additional shares to convert debt into shares for some major shareholders who have lent the company in times of financial woes.
Companies - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 8:57 am GMT+7
ASEAN seeks to expand RCEP, CPTPP membership
ASEAN is seeking to expand its membership in two key trade agreements - the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as part of efforts to strengthen regional economic integration.
Southeast Asia - Tue, May 20, 2025 | 8:01 am GMT+7
ASEAN plans to set up monetary fund
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is taking steps to revive the idea of creating its own monetary fund, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said.
Southeast Asia - Mon, May 19, 2025 | 9:57 pm GMT+7