Does unpaid household work count as employment?

It can be classified as employment if the activity meets the applicable labour standards, distinguishing it from housework performed exclusively for one's own household.

Why might the female labour force decline while employment does not necessarily drop proportionally?

Some individuals may stop job hunting and exit the labour force rather than transitioning into unemployment.

What additional metrics should be examined to assess the gender gap?

This scale should be combined with the corresponding female population, employed workers, and the unemployment rate by gender.

Vietnam Labour Force - Female

Name: Vietnam Labour Force - Female
Creator: National Statistics Office (NSO)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Vietnam Labour Force - Female stood at 25,141.42 thousand persons in Q2 2026, according to National Statistics Office (NSO). It is one of the indicators in the Labor and employment table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2022 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.

Source: National Statistics Office (NSO)Last updated: Jul 10, 2026, 17:09 UTCCurated by Bui Thanh Phuc

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This indicator in the Labor and employment table

Indicator	Q2-2026	Q1-2026	Q4-2025	Q3-2025	Q2-2025	Q1-2025	Q4-2024	Q3-2024	Q2-2024	Q1-2024
Labour force	53,787.55	53,612	53,844.89	53,356.22	53,094	52,924.2	53,154.93	52,764.86	52,540.8	52,392.18
Female	25,141.42	25,027.3	25,139.18	24,859.89	24,697	24,610.3	24,871.31	24,645.4	24,659.5	24,536.53
Urban	21,196.83	21,118.7	21,209.61	20,886.69	20,661.2	20,470.5	20,591	20,444.91	20,240.6	20,077.13

Understanding vietnam Labour Force - Female

The female labour force in Vietnam encompasses women who currently hold jobs as well as those who are unemployed but actively seeking and available to start work. Women engaged exclusively in domestic work for their own households who fail to meet employment criteria, students, and non-job-seekers are typically excluded. Unlike the total labour force, this series isolates the contribution of women, and unlike employed female workers, it continues to record women who are unemployed but have not exited the market.

When reading quarterly data expressed in thousand persons, it is important to note that fluctuations may reflect labour force participation decisions rather than merely the number of job positions. Year-on-year comparisons help mitigate noise from Tết, harvest seasons, service-sector hiring cycles, and the timing of returns to work following family care disruptions. Quarter-on-quarter comparisons are more appropriate for detecting short-term shocks, though they are prone to overinterpretation. Changes in migration, age structure, the identification of informal employment, or the wording of job-search inquiries can affect the results. The latest estimated figures may also be updated once more complete information becomes available.

Frequently asked questions

Does unpaid household work count as employment?: It can be classified as employment if the activity meets the applicable labour standards, distinguishing it from housework performed exclusively for one's own household.
Why might the female labour force decline while employment does not necessarily drop proportionally?: Some individuals may stop job hunting and exit the labour force rather than transitioning into unemployment.
What additional metrics should be examined to assess the gender gap?: This scale should be combined with the corresponding female population, employed workers, and the unemployment rate by gender.