The figure, recorded through August 25, was nearly 6,800 higher than the almost 148,000 applications in the same period last year. More than 132,600 people were approved for benefits.
The centre, under the municipal Department of Home Affairs, has continued working with HCM City Social Security to pay unemployment benefits and recover payments made to ineligible recipients.
In the first eight months, it recovered more than VND 11.8 billion from 1,369 cases involving improperly received unemployment benefits.
The centre also held 142 job fairs at its three offices, unemployment insurance and job placement branches and other locations to help unemployed workers find new jobs.
Nearly 556,000 people received employment counselling and job placement assistance, with almost 39,000 referred to jobs and more than 9,700 securing employment.
The centre also worked with licensed overseas employment companies to advise 1,449 workers seeking jobs abroad under contract.
Nguyen Van Hanh Thuc, director of the HCM City Employment Service Centre, said the centre plans to hold another 13 job fairs in September, along with five sessions providing job-search skills for workers and legal and policy updates for businesses.
