According to the Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs’ latest statistics released at the ongoing 2013 Autumn Economic Forum in the northern province of Ninh Binh on September 27, the number of laborers nationwide is 54.4 million, an increase of 583,200 compared to the same period last year as of October 1, 2014.
Of 54.4 million laborers, male workers account for 51.6 percent and female laborers are 48.4 percent.
The proportion of laborers from 15 years old up working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector accounts for 47 percent while it is 21.1 percent and 31.9 percent in industry and service sectors respectively.
More worrisome, unemployment rate in the working age in first nine months of the year reached 2.21 percent including 3.51 percent in urban districts and 1.56 percent in rural areas. The proportion of those wanting to have more jobs to increase income in first nine months saw 2.38 percent
Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong from the Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs said at the forum that working force increase by 992 people yearly accounting for 1.48 percent a year.
As usual, the increase rate of working force is higher than that of population; however, it decreased from 2 percent in 2010 to 0.71 percent in 2013 and showed a slight recovery in first six month of 2014 with 0.91 percent thanks to economy growth rate.
