In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam recorded a labor force participation of 53 million people, with the unemployment rate among working-age individuals dropping to 2.22%. The average monthly income reached approximately $325.

According to the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), as of July 5, the national labor force aged 15 and above stood at 53 million, marking an increase of over 542,600 people compared to the same period in 2024. Of these, 51.9 million individuals were employed, while the unemployment rate was 2.22% and the underemployment rate stood at 1.72%.

Labor force and employment trends

In Q2 2025 alone, the labor force increased by nearly 170,000 people compared to the previous quarter, with significant growth in urban areas. The labor force participation rate remained stable at 68.2%, although it declined slightly from the same period last year.

Labor participation among women was recorded at 62.5%, compared to 74% among men. In urban areas, the participation rate was 66%, lower than the 69.7% rate seen in rural areas.

Notably, the percentage of workers with professional training or certifications reached 29.1% in Q2 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1%. Over the six-month period, the trained labor force with qualifications averaged 29%.

Average monthly income reaches $325

In Q2 2025, the average monthly income for workers was 8.2 million VND (approximately $321), showing a modest decrease from the previous quarter but an increase of 800,000 VND ($31) year-on-year.

Men earned on average 1.32 times more than women (approximately $364 vs. $274). Urban workers earned 1.38 times more than their rural counterparts ($387 vs. $282).

For the first half of 2025, the average monthly income was 8.3 million VND (approximately $325), representing a 10.1% year-on-year increase.

Salaried employees earned an average of 9.3 million VND ($364), with male workers earning more than females ($384 vs. $345). Urban employees had a higher average income of 10.4 million VND ($407) compared to 8.4 million VND ($329) in rural areas.

Unemployment and labor policy updates

Q2 2025 saw approximately 1.06 million unemployed individuals of working age, up slightly from Q1 but down from the same quarter in 2024. The unemployment rate was 2.24%, up 0.04 percentage points from Q1 but down 0.05 percentage points year-on-year.

In the first half of 2025, Vietnam had about 1.05 million unemployed individuals of working age, down by 13,800 year-on-year. The unemployment rate of 2.22% reflects a 0.04 percentage point decrease compared to the same period last year. Unemployment in urban areas remained below 3%.

On June 16, 2025, the National Assembly passed the revised Employment Law, comprising eight chapters and 55 articles, effective from January 1, 2026. The revised law introduces key updates covering job creation support, labor registration, market information systems, skills development, job services, unemployment insurance, and labor market governance.

These legislative improvements aim to enhance workers' rights and support the development of a more dynamic, equitable, and secure labor market.

PV