This paper provides an overview of the recent
performance of the labor market in Vietnam during
the Great Recession. The analysis uses data from the
Labor Force Survey and the Vietnam Household Living
Standard Survey. The author finds that, notwithstanding
the global crisis and domestic volatility, job creation
has been sustained in Vietnam, especially in the formal
sector, but that the overall quality of employment has
suffered. Gender differentials are found to affect older women especially, while educated women benefit from a
skills wage premium. Reassuringly given the large youth
share of the total workforce, the youth labor market
is dynamic and outcomes for youths have improved.
Meanwhile, participation in poverty alleviation programs
and labor market programs has not changed, and few
workers use the newly created employment services and
unemployment benefits.