A view of the press briefing.

Employment across the country in the first nine months of 2019 saw positive developments – the number of employed people increased, the unemployment rate and lack of jobs decreased. The labour structure shifted towards a reduced proportion in agriculture, forestry and fishery and increased proportion in industry, construction and services. The labour force aged 15 and over in the first three quarters of 2019 was 55.5 million, up 310,900 over the same period last year; the labour force of working age was 48.9 million, an increase of 425,600. The number of employed labourers aged 15 and over in the third quarter of 2019 was estimated at 54.6 million; and in the first three quarters was 54.4 million, including 19.1 million working in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors, accounting for 35 per cent of the total (down 3.2 percentage points compared to the same period last year); 15.9 million working in industry and construction sectors, or 29.2 per cent of the total (an increase of 2.6 percentage points); and 19.4 million in services, accounting for 35.8 per cent of the total (an increase of 0.6 percentage points).

The national unemployment rate was 1.99 per cent, of which the unemployment rate in urban areas was 2.94 per cent; and in rural areas was 1.52 per cent. The underemployment rate of people of working age was 1.32 per cent, of which the rate in urban areas was 0.73 per cent; and in rural areas was 1.63 per cent.

Generally speaking, the living standards and social welfare of people improved, especially in rural areas. The development of new-style rural areas has made considerable contributions to enhancing the living standards of people in rural areas, and fostering the development of socio-economic infrastructure. By the end of September 2019, 4,458 communes (equal to 50 per cent) and 76 districts across the country had been recognised as standard new-style rural areas.

Initial reports show that total gifts granted to people eligible for State preferential treatment policies, people who had contributed to national independence, and people eligible for social welfare in the first nine months were worth about VND5.1 trillion (US$219.6 million), including VND3.1 trillion for people eligible for State preferential treatment policies and those who had contributed to the national independence; VND1.2 trillion to support impoverished households and nearly 0.8 trillion for social welfare activities./.