Specifically, the ADB report shows that from 2009 to 2016, the proportion of women hired in total employment in Vietnam remained stable at 48.5%, the highest among Southeast Asian countries (regional average is 42.7%). During the same period, women-owned public sector jobs increased from 46% to 48.1% and were higher than the Southeast Asia average of 2016 at 46.9%. Having a balanced representation in the public sector can contribute to fairer policies and goals.

Many policies have been enacted by Vietnam to improve the working life of women. Women currently have adequate representation in the public sector in ASEAN, although they face significant barriers to reaching senior leadership positions. In 2016, nearly half (47%) of public sector jobs in ASEAN countries were undertaken by women. However, only 10% of ministers in Southeast Asian countries are held by women, compared to 28% in OECD countries. On average, women accounted for 20% of the seats in the ASEAN parliament in 2018, only 1.7 percentage points higher than in 2008.