Vietnam urban unemployment rate 6.48-7.95 %
HANOI - The unemployment rate in four Vietnamese cities ranged from 6.48 percent
to 7.95 percent in July, a survey published on Saturday showed.
Labour Ministry figures published by the official Vietnam News Agency showed the unemployment
rate in the capital Hanoi was 7.95 percent and the rate in Ho Chi Minh City, the main business centre,
was 6.48 percent.
The rates in the northern port city Haiphong and Can Tho were 7.76 percent and 7.15 percent
respectively.
The survey put the country's total workforce at 38.64 million and said the urban workforce was
rising while the rural workforce was falling. It gave no overall figure for the number's of jobless.
Vietnam's total population is about 79 million.
The survey said urban workers accounted for 22.56 percent of the total workforce in July against
22.29 percent last October. In rural areas the ratio was 77.44 percent against 77.71.
Officials have said Vietnam needs to generate 1.2-1.3 million jobs this year to reduce urban
unemployment to five percent and cut rural underemployment.
A VNA report in July said more than 550,000 jobs had been created in Vietnam in the first half this
year but more were needed for those workers who would be laid off by reform of state enterprises and for
rural migrants.
VNA has said economic development made possible by the newly amended Enterprise Law and a
policy of encouraging domestic investment would be key to resolving unemployment.
It said more than 10,000 enterprises had been registered in Vietnam since the amended Enterprise
Law came into effect at the start of the year.
Reuters - October 29, 2000.
|