In terms of regions, the labor force from 15 years of age and over in urban areas was 18.1 million, accounting for 33.2% and 36.4 million people, accounting for 66.8% in the rural area. At that time, the labor force in working age was estimated at 47.9 million, an increase of 212.5 thousand over the same period last year, of which male labor was 25.8 million, accounting for 53, 9%; 22.1 million female workers, accounting for 46.1%. The labor force in working age in urban areas is 16.3 million, accounting for 34.0%; in the rural area: 31.6 million people, accounting for 66.0%.

The number of employed persons in the first quarter of this year was 53.4 million, including 21.7 million working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, accounting for 40.6% of the total;  13.6 million people in the industry and construction sector, accounting for 25.5%; 18.1 million people in the service sector, accounting for 33.9%.

The unemployed rate of labor in the first quarter of 2017 is estimated at 2.30%, of which it is 3.21% in the urban area and 1.82% in the rural area. The youth unemployment rate (15-24 years) in the first quarter of 2017 is estimated at 6.96%,  of which it is 10.90% in the urban area and 5.57% in the rural area. The rate of underemployment of workers in the first quarter of this year is estimated at 1.74%, of  which the unemployment rate in urban areas is 0.80%; The unemployment rate in rural areas is 2.25%. The estimatedrate of informal employees outside of agriculture, forestry and fishery households in Quarter I of 2017 is55,5%, of which it is 47.2% in the urban area and 63.0% in the rural area.

In the first quarter of 2017, the country had 76.3 thousand hunger families, decreasing by 26% over the same period last year and equaling 312.3 thousand hunger members, down 25.3%. To overcome hunger, at the beginning of the year, all levels, sectors and organizations from the central to local levels have provided food shortage families with  11.2 thousand tons of food and about VND1.1 billion.

According to the preliminary report, the total mobilized funds from the central budget, provinces, cities and organizations and individuals allocated for social protection and poverty reduction in the first 3 months of 2017 is 3,775 billion VND . In addition, 9.4 million health insurance cards, free health insurance books / cards have been donated to policy beneficiaries nationwide.

Up to the end of March 2017, 62 out of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities have achieved universal preschool education standards for children 5 years old; 63/63 provinces and centrally-run cities meet the standard of primary education universalisation level 1, of which 12 provinces and cities are recognized to achieve the standard of primary education universalization level 3.

In 2016, vocational training institutions nationwide have recruited more than 2.1 million turns of people, reaching 96.5% of the plan, of which vocational colleges and vocational secondary schools enroll 238.7 thousand Number of people, reaching 95.5%; Primary vocational enrollment is 1.8 million, reaching 96.6%.

The entire vocational education system currently has 1,989 establishments, including 219 colleges; 303 professional secondary schools; 190 vocational colleges, 280 vocational schools and 997 vocational education centers.

In the first three months, the country had nearly 6.3 thousand cases of foot and mouth disease; 14.1 thousand cases of hemorrhage fever (2 deaths); 87 cases of typhoid; 73 cases of viral encephalitis; 10 cases of meningococcal disease and 16 cases of Zika virus infection. The epidemic of pertussis tends to develop complicated and risky outbreaks in the northern provinces due to cold weather and high humidity. Up to the middle of March, 114 cases of pertussis have been reported nationwide, of which five have died.

The total number of living HIV-infected people by March 17, 2017 was 215.9 thousand, of which 88.5 thousand turned to AIDS; The death toll from HIV / AIDS in the country to date was 90.3 thousand people.

As of 18/12/2016 to 17/3/2017, 21 cases of severe food poisoning occurred in the whole country, causing 641 cases of poisoning, of which 15 died. It is noteworthy that since the beginning of the year, there have been tens of methanol poisoning cases in the country with hundreds of victims.

Cultural activities in the first three months of the year focused on celebrating the big holidays, major events of the country and organizing activities celebrating the Party, celebrate the New Lunar Year (Year of Chicken).

The mass sports movement took place in various localities with many activities such as the Olympic day for the health of the people; Sports Congresses at all levels; a coordinated program of physical education and sports with ministries, sectors and plans for swimming, Childhood and Child Drowning prevention in 2017; to run relay in response to 20^th SEA Games  and 9^th Para Games.

Sport achievements in the first three months gained impressive results, won 18 gold medals, 17 silver medals and 10 bronze medals in the international arena.

In the first three months of 2017, there were 4,812 traffic accidents in the whole country, including 2,451 traffic accidents (from less serious and above) and 2,361 traffic collisions, 2,114 deaths, 1,032 were injured and 2,803 were slightly injured. Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in the first three months of this year decreased by 3.5% (number of traffic accidents (from less serious and above) decreased by 2.9%, number of traffic collisions decreased 4.1%); Number of deaths decreased by 3.6%; The number of injured people decreased by  36.9% and the number of minor injuries by 2.9%. On average, 1 day in 3 months, 53 accidents occurred in the whole country, including 27 minor traffic accidents and 26 traffic crashes, killing 23 people, 11 people Injured and 31 injured slightly.

Only in the first three months of 2017, there were 43 rail traffic accidents, 37 dead and 18 injured. The accident occurred mainly at crossings between the railway and the crossroads of living quarters, including some serious accidents causing great damage to people and property.

In the first three months of 2017, tide, tornadoes and hail have affected production and peoples life in some localities. According to preliminary reports, natural disasters injured six people; 2.9 thousand houses flooded, landslided, roofs blown away; 3,2 thousand hectares of rice, 845 hectares of crops, 260 hectares of industrial crops, 360 hectares of forest trees, fruit trees and 326 hectares of aquaculture damaged. The total value of damage in the first 3 months is estimated at over VND57 billion..

In the first quarter of 2017, 4,022 cases of violations of regulations on environmental protection in the whole country were discovered, of which 3,427 cases were handled with a fine of nearly VND40 billion.

In the first quarter of this year, 1,293 fires and explosions occurred in the whole country, causing 33 deaths and 69 injuries, damage was estimated at VND684 billion. Compared with the same period last year, the number of fires and explosions increased by 37.7%, the number of deaths by 2.5 times, the number of injured people by 13.8%, and the estimated damage by 34.2%.

Source: General statistics office