Over 32 million Vietnamese of working age affected by Covid-19 pandemic

The figure was released by the General Statistics Office at a press conference on January 6 regarding the job market in Vietnam in 2020.

According to the report, the hardest hit area was service sector with 71.6% of workers affected, followed by industry and construction with 64.7% of its workforce affected.

The ratio of workers in agriculture affected by Covid-19 was the lowest at 26.4%.

The coronavirus pandemic cost many people their jobs and forced others to work reduced hours but the situation improved in the fourth quarter, with the rate estimated at 1.89%, compared with 3.08% and 2.79% in the second and third quarters respectively.

Such data showed that despite being adversely hit by the pandemic, the Vietnamese labour market witnessed positive changes in the final months of the year when labour demand increased and more goods were produced to meet the year-end demand.

The rate of unemployment in the fourth quarter was estimated at 3.68%, the highest in ten years but still lower than the 4% target set by the National Assembly.

The jobless rate, along with the GDP growth rate and other economic data, is evidence of the Vietnamese government’s success in realising the dual goals of preventing the spread of Covid-19 and ensuring socio-economic development.