Vietnamese overseas workers getting younger

Vietnamese guest workers going abroad have a median age of 27, one lower than in 2021 and much lower than the 40-42 for people working in Vietnam.

Around 412,000 Vietnamese went abroad for work between 2022 and 2025, according to a report released by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.

Median refers to the middle value in a list.

The rate of unmarried guest workers increased from 52% in 2021 to 61% in 2025.

The report was based on the 2025 Labor Force Survey and an in-depth survey of guest workers.

The geographic origins of people going overseas have also shifted. Five years ago, 83% were from the north central region, including Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Hue, and the Red River Delta, including Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi.

By 2025, the share of the northern midlands and mountainous regions, including Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, and Thai Nguyen, and the Mekong Delta, including Can Tho and Vinh Long, had risen from 12% to 23%.

About 80% of those working abroad had completed high school, but most were in jobs requiring low or medium skills.

Manufacturing accounted for 45% of the total jobs, with the other major sectors including construction, agriculture, trade, automobile and motorcycle repair, and accommodation and food services.

Incomes varied considerably by occupation. Managers and high- and mid-level technical professionals earned VND51.7 million ($1,960) a month, nearly twice the overall average of VND28 million ($1,077). Workers in simple manual tasks earned more than VND24 million ($923), while skilled trades and agricultural workers and craft workers generally got VND27-29 million.

Vietnamese workers prepare to take a Korean-language proficiency test for jobs in South Korea under the EPS program in 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

The General Statistics Office said the income gap shows that vocational training, technical skills, and foreign language skills are important for workers seeking higher-paying jobs.

It recommended tailoring training programs to the needs of each market.

Vietnamese workers were employed in 42 countries and territories, but with nearly 77% in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The General Statistics Office recommended expanding to markets with steady labor demand, good working conditions, and higher salaries, giving workers more options and reducing possible risks from policy changes.