HCMC – Vietnam’s post-Tet labor market is seen recovering in the first quarter of this year, with a surge in hiring demand in labor-intensive industries such as footwear, apparel, manufacturing and services.

Job placement centers in HCMC and Hanoi are striving to match job supply with demand. The capital city aims to provide employment assistance to some 162,000 people this year, up by 2,000 over last year, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

Hanoi City plans to hold 55 job bazaars in the first quarter to facilitate employment. It found jobs for 13,700 workers in January alone. Of the figure, over 1,000 people were employed during interviews at job bazaars, while some 9,500 others were hired through job placement centers.

The HCMC Center for Employment Services said hiring in the city would spike after the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet), as enterprises need to boost employment to expand production.

It estimated that businesses in the southern metropolis would recruit about 11,550 new employees in the first quarter, focusing on industries such as footwear, apparel, manufacturing and services.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs forecast job vacancies would range from 350,000 to 400,000 in some localities during the first half of 2023.