A woman looks for job information at a job fair. — VNA/VNS Photo

The average income rose to VND6.94 million (US$300) per month, the ministry said at a press briefing on the latest workforce figures held in Hanoi on Wednesday.

The increase was recorded in almost all groups, ranging from VND944,000 to VND1.4 million, depending on the level of workers, in comparison with the fourth quarter of 2018.

The number of unemployed during the period totalled 1,059,000, down 3,280 from late 2018 and a drop of 7,980 compared with the same period last year.

The highest unemployment rate was reported in the Mekong Delta with 2.79 per cent. That was followed by the north central, central coastal, southeastern, Red River and Central Highlands regions, with 2.64, 2.43, 1.68 and 1.27 per cent, respectively.

The number of people with jobs during the first quarter totalled 54.32 million, representing a fall of 0.38 per cent against late 2018, but a rise of 0.61 per cent year-on-year.

Dao Quang Vinh, director of the ministry's Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs, said sectors that recorded the highest increase in the number of workers in the first quarter included the processing industry, manufacturing and transport.

The ministry forecasts nearly 54.58 million people to be employed in the second quarter of the year.

MoLISA Deputy Minister Doan Mau Diep said the average unemployment rate was forecast to reach 2 per cent in the second quarter.

Sectors such as processing, manufacturing, construction, retail and wholesale are expected to need more labourers.

However, the demand for labourers is expected to drop in the agriculture, forestry, seafood, mining, finance, and banking and insurance sectors, he said.

VNS