The labor force aged 15 years and above in nine months of 2018 was 55.2 million persons, expanding 581.5 thousand persons compared with the same period last year (in the third quarter of 2018, it was 55.4 million persons, a rise of 551.5 thousand persons from the third quarter of 2017); labor force at working age was 48.5 million persons, an increase of 535.7 thousand persons (in the third quarter of 2018, it was 48.8 million persons, a rise of 539.9 thousand ones compared with the similar period last year).

The unemployment rate of labourers at working age in nine months of this year was estimated at 2.2% (it was 3.3% in the first quarter, 2.19% in the second quarter, 2.2% in the third quarter), of which this rate was 3.1% for the urban area and 1.74% for the rural area.

In nine months of this year, underemployment rate of working-age laborers was estimated at 1.46% (it was 1.52% in the first quarter, 1.43% in the second quarter, 1.42% in the third quarter of 2018), of which it was 0.63% for the urban area; 1.86% for the rural area. 

Generally, in nine months of 2018, the whole country had 100.7 thousand households suffering from food shortage, a decrease of 38.4% from the same period last year, corresponding to 401.5 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, a decline of 40.2% according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from central to local level supported difficult households with 7.4 thousand tons of food.

According to the preliminary report, the total gifts awarded to policy beneficiary objects, people with merit, social protection beneficiaries in nine months were 4763 trillion dongs. In addition, nearly 22.6 million health insurance cards, free health care books/cards were donated to policy beneficiaries nationwide.

According to the preliminary report, the 2017 national high school exam was held at 2144 exam venues, corresponding to 39689 exam rooms. 925.8 thousand candidates registered to take part in the exam, of which 687.9 thousand candidates registered for admission to universities and colleges, accounting for 74.3% of the total number of candidates registered to participate in the exam.

At the time of starting the school year 2018-2019, the country had 5.3 million preschool children and 16.6 million pupils of general education going to school. At present, the whole country had 1954 vocational training establishments, including 394 occupational colleges, 515 occupational intermediate schools, and 1045 occupational training centers. Vocational training as of the end of August 2018 enrolled 1492 thousand new students, of which 342 thousand students were enrolled for college and intermediate level; 1150 thousand students were enrolled for elementary level and other vocational training programmes. Besides, in 2018, about 800,000 rural workers are expected to receive vocational training, including 19.8 thousand persons with disabilities according to the project “Vocational training for rural workers until 2020”.

Generally, in nine months of 2018, the whole country had 42.8 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 56.1 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (11 cases died); 456 cases of typhoid; 630 cases of virus encephalitis (18 cases died); 20 cases of meningococcal disease (1 case died); 536 cases of whooping cough (2 case died); 72 human cases of streptococcus suis infection (6 cases died); and 57 cases died of rabies.

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of September 18, 2018 was 208.5 thousand persons and nearly 93.1 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS nationwide as of above time-point was 98.07 thousand persons.

The total number of food poisoning cases in 9 months of this year was 62 cases, making 1557 persons poisoned, of which 10 cases died.

Cultural activities in nine months of 2018 focused on celebrating the big holidays, major events of the country and building the cultural life at the grassroots. Since the beginning of the year, in high-performance sports, the Vietnam sports delegation won 368 gold medals, 281 silver medals and 226 bronze medals at regional and international competitions. At the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD 18), the Vietnam sports delegation won 4 gold medals, 16 silver medals and 18 bronze medals, ranking 17^th out of 45 countries and territories.

Generally, in nine months of 2018, 13242 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, including 6861 cases of traffic accidents from less serious to become and 6381 cases of traffic collisions, causing6012 deaths, 3670 injuries and 6649 minor injuries. Compared with the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in nine months of this year declined by 7.8% (number of traffic accidents of differently serious levels reduced by 2.3%; number of traffic collisions decreased by 13.1%); number of death fell by 1.8%; number of injuries went up by 3.4% and number of minor injuries moved down by 19.3%. On average, 48 traffic accidents occurred a day in nine months of 2018, including 25 traffic accidents from less serious to become and 23 traffic collisions, causing 22 deaths and 13 injuries and 24 minor injuries.

According to the preliminary report from localities, natural disasters in nine months of 2018 made 27 people dead and missing; 12 ones injured; 544 thousand houses collapsed and swept away; 14.1 thousand houses flooded, damaged and roof ripped-off; 8.7 thousand ha of paddy and crops damaged. The total loss caused by natural disasters in the month was estimated at 785 billion dongs.Generally, in nine months, natural disasters made 183 persons dead and missing; 129 ones injured; over 1800 houses collapsed and swept away; 59.5 thousand houses flooded, damaged and roof ripped-off; 141.7 thousand ha of paddy and 29.6 thousand ha of crops damaged. The total loss caused by natural disasters in nine months was estimated at over 8.8 trillion dongs.

In nine months of 2018, 10988 cases of violating regulations of environment protection were found over the country, of which 10264 cases were treated with total fine of over 161 billion dongs.

In nine months, the whole country had 3008 fire and explosion cases, causing 82 deaths and 224 injuries, with an estimated damage of about 1.5 trillion dongs.