As many as 784,000 labourers were provided with jobs in the first six months of this year, up 3.4 percent from the same period last year, said the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Of the number, about 53,000 guest workers were sent to work abroad, equivalent to 58.8 percent of the plan set for the year.

Reports from the ministry also showed there was a labourer shortage and a number of labourers changed their job in the period, though the situation was not as serious as previous years.

In the first two quarters, the MoLISA focused on developing the labour market through job centres while building databases related to the supply and demand of labourers.

Over 500 job fairs were arranged and 825,000 job seekers received advice and were introduced to employment opportunities during the reviewed period; about 347,000 found their jobs through employment service centres.

The MoLISA plans to find jobs for 1.6 million people in the remaining months of this year. It will also concentrate on building short and long-term reports on labour market forecasts to inform labour and employment policies.-VNA