Over 2.2 million people leave cities during Covid-19 pandemic
According to a report released on January 6 by GSO, over 520,000 people left the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City while over 440,000 left Hanoi. Another 600,000 plus left other southern localities for their hometowns during the year.
Most of these were people who didn't have stable jobs and housing and were badly affected by the social distancing regulations applied for Covid-19 prevention during that time, the report said.
Head of the GSO's Population and Labour Statistics Department, Pham Hoai Nam, said the exodus had led to labour shortages in several industries including textiles and footwear.
"The pandemic left thousands of workers unemployed, especially those working in the service sector," he said. Many people have faced difficulties finding new jobs in their hometowns."
GSO's report also pointed out an abnormal situation when the unemployment rate in cities was higher than that in the countryside.
However, the labour market has gradually recovered since the end of 2021 thanks to widespread vaccination coverage and the government’s new strategy of adapting to Covid-19, GSO said. Unemployment dropped from 3.98 percent to 3.56 percent from the previous quarter, while monthly average incomes increased by VND130,000 to VND5.3 million (USD232.97).
