HCMC businesses need 43,000 workers

Its deputy director, Nguyen Van Lam, who released the data at a news conference Thursday, said many footwear and apparel companies have been impacted by the global disruption, especially in Europe.

A number of businesses in HCMC, like South Korean footwear maker Vietnam Samho Co. Ltd and Taiwanese shoemaker Ty Hung Co. Ltd, were forced to lay off workers.

Many others had to reduce their employees' working hours to avoid paying overtime.

In October nearly 11,000 people received unemployment benefits, 27% more than a year earlier.

More than 1,800 workers were let go recently in Cu Chi, but thanks to strong demand, 1,500 of them found new jobs.

HCMC has around 249,000 firms with nearly 2.5 million employees.