According to the Ministry, 1.572 million jobs were created in 2006, fulfilling 103 percent of the set target. By July, 2006, the whole country’s workforce numbered more than 45.27 million in which those involved in agro-forestry and fishery sector accounted for 56.7 percent, industry-construction sector (17.9 percent), and service sector (24.4 percent). The unemployment rate under working age in urban area stood at 5.15 percent, down 0.16 percent from the 2005 figure.

A number of provinces and cities borrowed VND1,200 billion from the National Employment Fund to provide jobs for 350,000 people living in disadvantaged areas and help them develop the farming or household economies.

Da Nang, Hanoi and Bac Ninh periodically provided employment information through the Internet, attracting the participation of a large number of enterprises and workers. Meanwhile, 15 key economic regions also launched websites to provide information about labour markets and job opportunities. Despite obtaining certain results, the labour sector still had weaknesses to overcome.

The number of low-income jobs still accounted for 70-80 percent, mostly in the agricultural sector and household economies. Violations of labour law committed by enterprises remained a common occurrence (Nearly 20 percent of workers had no labour contracts, 60 percent of enterprises had no collective labour contracts and almost 40 percent of workers did not participate in compulsory social insurance.) The living conditions of workers in industrial parks, particularly those coming from other provinces, were still difficult.

In 2007, the labour sector aims to reduce the unemployment rate in urban area to below 5.2 percent. The labour structure is composed of agriculture (54 percent) industry-construction (19.5 percent) and services (26.5 percent).

This year, enterprises and economic sectors plan to generate 850,000 jobs while the household economy which is focusing on handicrafts, small business, poultry and cattle breeding and aquaculture, and State agencies are expected to  provide a total of 670,000 jobs.