Vietnam's workforce totaled 54.4 million people aged 15 and above in the first quarter of the year, an increase of 761,800 people year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

28.2 million were men, accounting for 51.8 per cent, and 26.2 million were women, or 48.2 per cent.

The number of urban workers was 17.3 million, or 31.7 per cent, while rural workers totaled 37.1 million people, accounting for 68.3 per cent.

Workers of working age (15 to 60 for men, 15 to 55 for women) totaled 47.8 million, an increase of 128,300 compared to the first quarter of last year. 25.9 million were men, or 54.2 per cent, while 21.9 million, or 45.8 per cent, were women.

Urban workers of working age stood at 15.7 million, or 32.8 per cent, and rural workers about 32.1 million, or 67.2 per cent.

In the first quarter 53.3 million were employed, including 22.5 million people in agriculture, forestry and seafood, which accounted for 42.3 per cent, 13 million in industry and construction, or 24.4 per cent, and 17.8 million in services, or 33.3 per cent.

The unemployment rate among people of working age was 2.23 per cent in the first quarter; 2.96 per cent in urban areas and 1.87 per cent in rural areas. Graduates accounted for 3.96 per cent.

The unemployment rate among people between 15 and 24 years of age in the first quarter was 6.45 per cent; 9.51 per cent in urban areas and 5.53 per cent in rural areas.

Unemployment among workers above 24 years of age was 1.27 per cent; 1.79 per cent in urban areas and 1.02 per cent in rural areas.