73% of single Vietnamese workers can’t afford to marry or have kids
Low wages are forcing millions of young Vietnamese workers to delay marriage and children, a new survey shows.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor surveyed 3,000 workers across 10 localities in March-April 2025. Results showed that 73% of single workers hesitate to start families because their salaries cannot cover living costs, especially as expenses for housing, food and childcare keep rising.
Overall, 55% said their wages only cover basic daily needs, while 26% have to cut back on spending to survive.
Another 8% said they cannot make ends meet and need extra jobs. Many are forced to borrow money just to pay for sudden expenses like medical bills or emergencies.
Among those already with families, 73% said low income affects their decision to have more children, with many postponing childbirth. More than half said their wages only partially cover education costs for their kids, and 7% cannot afford school fees at all. Experts warn this could deprive children of quality education, limiting their future opportunities.
Healthcare is also a struggle. As many as 44% of the workers said their income only covers basic medical care, while 38% can afford only some essential medicines, and 5.6% cannot afford any treatment or medication.
Although 93% of workers received the mandated 6% minimum wage increase in 2024, some companies only raised wages for the lowest-paid employees to meet social insurance requirements. This meant many workers saw no real boost in take-home pay. The union called this a sign of weak law enforcement and loophole exploitation.
In response, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has proposed a minimum wage increase of at least 8.3% or up to 9.2% in 2026. They said wages must be enough for workers to cover living costs and save for the future, which would also boost productivity and strengthen employer-employee ties.
According to the General Statistics Office, in early 2025, workers earned an average of VND8.3 million ($318) per month, with urban workers earning nearly 1.4 times more than rural workers. This includes wages, overtime, bonuses, allowances, and other benefits.
International Labor Organization data showed Vietnam’s minimum wage rose from $119 in 2015 to $168 in 2022. But inflation ate away most of the gains. From 2015-2019, nominal wages grew 42.7%, while real wages rose only 20.1%. Between 2020-2022, despite nominal wages rising over 6%, real wages increased just 0.7%.
The ILO advised Vietnam to adjust minimum wages based on inflation, economic growth, employment rates, company affordability and labor productivity to ensure workers can keep up with rising costs and support their families.
By Hong Chieu – VnExpress.net – June 30, 2025