During a press conference on 19/6, the Department of Overseas Labor Management announced that over 66,300 Vietnamese laborers went to work abroad in the first half of the year. Japan remained the leading market, attracting nearly 28,500 workers, primarily in manufacturing, nursing, and caregiving.

Taiwan followed with 28,200 workers, South Korea with nearly 3,400, and China with over 1,900. For the second half of the year, the Department of Overseas Labor Management aims to negotiate and sign labor cooperation agreements with 14 countries and territories, targeting high-income markets such as Canada, Greece, and Australia.

Mr. Vu Truong Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management, assessed Japan as a positive destination for Vietnamese laborers. Approximately 480,000 Vietnamese are currently working there, including engineers, specified skilled workers, and technical interns. Japan hopes Vietnam will increase the number of dispatched workers in the coming period.

Mr. Vu Truong Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management, at the press conference on 19/6. *Photo: Hong Chieu*

While the receiving market generally remained stable, Mr. Giang noted that the total number of laborers dispatched in the first half of the year decreased by 11% compared to the same period in 2025 due to several factors. Escalating conflicts in some key regions made it difficult for Vietnam and other countries to send workers. Additionally, some sending countries were affected by the global economy; for example, the depreciation of the Japanese yen made that market less appealing.

"The supply of overseas laborers also faces competition as domestic businesses create more jobs", he stated. He cited construction companies recruiting general laborers with incomes of 15-20 million Vietnamese dong, leading many to choose domestic employment over working abroad.

In 2025, Vietnamese laborers working abroad sent home approximately 7 billion USD. The management agency aims to shift focus from purely unskilled labor to skilled workers meeting European standards.