Vietnamese Workers' Overseas Employment Costs Decline, Statistical Report Shows Progress

The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam's Government News reported on September 8, 2026, that a significant reduction in the costs borne by Vietnamese workers for employment abroad has been observed. This finding comes from the "In-depth Analysis Report of Costs Borne by Vietnamese Workers for Employment Abroad – Statistical Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 10.7.1", announced at a workshop in Hanoi. According to the report, the average cost of securing employment abroad was equivalent to approximately 4.5 months of earnings in 2025, a notable decrease from 7.4 months in 2021. This metric, SDG Indicator 10.7.1, measures the total costs borne by workers relative to their earnings in the first month at their destination. The report was prepared by the National Statistics Office (NSO), drawing on data from the 2025 Labour Force Survey and the 2025 In-depth Survey of Migrant Workers. Technical support was provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and funding came from the European Union (EU) and the Government of Sweden. At the workshop, leaders and representatives from various government ministries, United Nations agencies, development partners, academia, and other relevant organizations convened. They discussed how official labor migration statistics can inform policymaking, strengthen labor migration governance, protect migrant workers, and monitor Vietnam's progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The report highlights several positive trends, including an increase in average earnings during the first month of employment abroad by 25.4 percent, from VND 22.4 million (US$862) to VND 28.1 million (US$1,080). Furthermore, the report provides detailed analysis by sex, area of residence, skill level, destination country, and job-search channel, illustrating the diverse characteristics and experiences of Vietnamese workers employed abroad. The 2025 In-depth Survey of Migrant Workers also offers insights into working conditions, access to support mechanisms, employment status upon return, skill utilization, and re-migration intentions. Nguyen Thi Huong, Director General of the National Statistics Office, emphasized the importance of statistical data in providing a comprehensive picture of Vietnamese workers abroad and the factors influencing their migration decisions, thereby supporting research, analysis, and the monitoring of development goals. Gonzalo Serrano De La Rosa, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, addressed the event, stating that migration is a development issue requiring cooperation across institutions, sectors, and borders. He reiterated the EU's commitment, through a Team Europe approach, to working with Vietnam and its partners to strengthen evidence and institutional capacity for effective migration governance, investing in people, knowledge, and informed policymaking to ensure labor mobility supports sustainable development and creates lasting benefits. Looking forward, the report recommends continued efforts to enhance the international labor migration data system, improve data continuity and comparability, and strengthen the effective use of data in policy development and implementation. These actions are deemed crucial for advancing safe, orderly, and regular migration and bolstering the protection of migrant workers' rights and legitimate interests.