The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) plans to continue implement synchronous measures with the aim to create 1.6 million new jobs in 2011.

The target, which was announced at MOLISA’s review conference held in Hanoi on Jan. 5, includes 87,000 jobs overseas.

In 2011, the ministry will focus on developing the labour market, building harmonious labour relations, increasing the scale and improving the quality of vocational training following the market’s demands. It will also work to shift the restructure towards higher industrial and service percentage while reducing the number in agriculture.

According to the ministry’s report, in 2010, over 1.6 million jobs were generated, an increase of 6 percent over 2009, with over 85,000 people sent to work abroad.

Industry and construction led in creating jobs in the country. Especially, the project to train rural labourers made a breakthrough in connecting enterprises, vocational training establishments and local authorities, contributing to generating stable jobs.

The National Fund for Employment poured over 1.9 trillion VND (nearly 95 million USD) in loans for farming, agriculture and handicraft projects, which helped create about 250,000 jobs.

Labour export was boosted in 2010 despite the impacts of the global economic crisis. Traditional markets for Vietnamese labour, including Taiwan , Malaysia , the Republic of Korea and Japan were maintained and even saw growth. New markets like Libya , Macao and the United Arab Emirates have opened their door to Vietnamese workers.

More labour transaction floors were open, creating effective linkages between enterprises and labourers, especially at localities with labour markets like Hanoi , Da Nang , Ho Chi Minh City , Binh Duong and Dong Nai.

The efficiency of job generation over the past year contributed to help reduce unemployment rate in urban areas from 4.66 percent in 2009 to 4.43 percent in 2010./.