Vietnam labor market shows rising incomes and workforce shifts

Recent data from the General Statistics Office indicates a recovery in Vietnam's labor market and rising income levels for both domestic and overseas workers.

For Vietnamese citizens working abroad, the average first-month salary in 2025 reached 28.1 million VND, up from 22.4 million VND in 2021. The highest average earnings were found in wholesale, retail, and automotive repair sectors, reaching 37.5 million VND per month. Meanwhile, the average cost to secure overseas employment decreased to 125.7 million VND.

Domestically, the labor force aged 15 and older reached 53.8 million people in the first nine months of 2026, a growth of 697,000 compared to the same period in 2025. Average monthly income for workers in the third quarter of 2026 rose to 9.2 million VND, representing a 9.9% increase year-on-year. There is a visible shift in the workforce toward the industrial, construction, and service sectors, while the agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors saw a decline in labor numbers.