Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam expects to have a totalof 54.2 million people in the workforce in the first quarter of 2018, up150,000 from last year’s final quarter, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs (MoLISA).

The ministry announced its quarterly updates on thecountry’s labour market, Report No.16 for the fourth quarter of 2017 in Hanoion March 15.

Vietnam posted the economic growth of 7.7 percent in thelast quarter, the strongest in many years, which together with increases innewly-registered firms and operating businesses boosted the number of people inwork and cut unemployment, said director general of the MoLISA’s Institute ofLabour Science and Social Affairs Dao Quang Vinh.

Several industries are forecast to experience high growththis quarter, including manufacturing of electronic components, computers andoptical products, ore mining, metal production, furniture and wastewatertreatment, enhancing labour demand.

The number of employed people hit 54.05 million in thefourth quarter of 2017, up 0.53 percent from the previous quarter and 1.21percent year-on-year. The highest growth was recorded in manufacturing with anincrease of 226,000 people, followed by construction, logistics and automotiverepair and maintenance service industries.

Meanwhile, the number of people working in theagriculture, forestry and fisheries saw the largest decline of 698,000 peoplefrom the same period of 2016.

The number of unemployed was estimated at 749,000 people,up 6,700 from the third quarter of 2017 and unchanged year-on-year.-VNA