The HCM City Employment Service Centre received 17,633 unemployment benefit applications in October, down from 18,923 in September, according to its latest labour market report.
Workers apply for unemployment benefits at the HCM City Employment Service Centre. (Photo: Thuy Huong)
The decline came as workers became more cautious about resigning or changing jobs towards the end of the year.
Meanwhile, stronger recruitment demand has prompted businesses to improve salaries and benefits to attract workers, increasing job opportunities.
In October, employers in HCM City registered more than 19,500 vacancies, compared with nearly 18,000 jobseekers, leaving over 1,500 positions unfilled.
These factors have contributed to a decline in unemployment benefit applications, the centre said.
However, applications over the first 10 months of 2026 remained higher than a year earlier.
As of October 25, the centre had received 191,295 applications, up 6.47 per cent from 179,670 in the same period of 2025. Of these, 165,890 applicants had been approved for unemployment benefits.
The centre also provided vocational training advice to 6,323 workers and submitted proposals for 6,067 training support decisions to the HCM City Department of Home Affairs.
Nguyen Van Hanh Thuc, director of the centre, said it had organised 188 job fairs and recruitment sessions during the first 10 months to connect jobseekers with employers.
The centre provided employment advice and support on more than 717,000 occasions, including nearly 39,000 job referrals, while almost 13,000 people secured jobs.
In November, the centre plans to hold eight job fairs across HCM City and five sessions offering job-search skills guidance to workers and updates on labour regulations for businesses.
