Number of employed workers increases
According to the Statistics Office, the number of employed workers in the fourth quarter of 2025 is estimated at 52.2 million people, an increase of 477.5 thousand people compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 656.2 thousand people compared to the same period last year. In general, in 2025, the number of employed workers is 52.4 million people, an increase of 578.3 thousand people (equivalent to an increase of 1.1%) compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the working age in the fourth quarter of 2025 is 1.67%, an increase of 0.17 percentage points compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 0.02 percentage points compared to the same period last year. In general, in 2025, the unemployment rate in the working age is 1.65%, down 0.20 percentage points compared to the previous year; of which the unemployment rate in urban areas is 1.25%; the unemployment rate in rural areas is 1.93%.
In general, the labor force in 2025 maintained stability, the participation rate increased slightly; many manufacturing and service industries recovered, creating more jobs, especially trade, logistics, tourism and the processing and manufacturing industry. However, the quality of employment was not commensurate when reducing working hours and short-term contracts were still common, causing many workers to "have jobs but lack jobs" and precarious incomes. Young workers and the informal sector were clearly affected; the unemployment rate and job shortage tended to increase slightly compared to 2024, showing that the sustainability of employment is still limited.
Average income increases but slower than living expenses
Data from the Statistics Office shows that the average income of workers in the fourth quarter of 2025 is 8.7 million VND/month, an increase of 323,000 VND compared to the third quarter of 2025 and an increase of 508,000 VND compared to the same period in 2024. In general, in 2025, the average income of workers is 8.4 million VND/month, an increase of 8.9%, equivalent to an increase of 685,000 VND compared to the previous year.
However, according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - former Director of the Institute of Labor and Social Sciences, the increase in income of workers has not kept up with the escalation of living expenses, especially in large cities. Rents, medical services, education, travel... continue to increase, causing increasing spending pressure.
Income increases nominally, but the real life of a part of workers has not improved commensurately" - Ms. Lan Huong said.
Job structure continues to shift
In 2025, the proportion of informal workers is 63.1%, down 1.4 percentage points compared to the previous year. In which, urban areas are 47.0%, down 2.0 percentage points; rural areas are 73.3%, down 0.8 percentage points; men are 66.4%, down 1.1 percentage points and women are 59.3%, down 1.7 percentage points.
Self-sustaining laborers (those who produce agricultural products (food, goods) mainly for their families or themselves to use, instead of selling to the market) in the fourth quarter of 2025 were 3.8 million people, an increase of 34,100 people compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 177,100 people compared to the same period last year.
Commenting on the employment structure in 2025, Mr. Bui Sy Loi - former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs (now the Social Committee) - assessed that 2025 witnessed a clear shift in the employment structure. The proportion of labor in the agricultural sector continued to decrease, while the industrial - construction and service sectors played a leading role.
The service sector, digital economy and jobs associated with technology platforms continue to expand. Many young workers participate in flexible job models such as e-commerce, logistics, delivery, content creation, and digital services. This shift also poses challenges to the quality and sustainability of jobs. Many new jobs are created quickly, but lack labor contracts, lack social insurance, causing workers to face long-term risks.
The changes in the labor market in 2025 show that skills and adaptability become vital factors. Businesses are increasingly prioritizing multi-skilled labor, capable of holding many positions, using technology and working flexibly.
Faced with this pressure, many workers have proactively studied further, improved their skills, and shifted to areas with higher demand. The trend of "re-learning when there is still work" is increasingly common, reflecting the change in the professional thinking of the labor force" - Mr. Loi said.
Mr. Bui Sy Loi said that the fluctuations of the labor market in 2025 pose many new requirements for policies. On the one hand, it is necessary to continue to support businesses to recover and create stable jobs; on the other hand, it is necessary to pay more attention to the quality of jobs, wages and social security for workers.
