Factors Influencing Return-to-Work Intentions of Laborers in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract:

This research was conducted with the objective of identifying the factors influencing the intention to return to work of laborers who live in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The push-pull theory in migration was used as the theoretical basis for the study. Through a survey of 577 workers in Ho Chi Minh City, 404 valid survey responses were included in the quantitative analysis. The experimental results were carried out and identified through the PLS-SEM method using SmartPLS 4.1.0 software. The research results indicate that five factors directly and positively affect the intention to return to work of the laborers living in HCMC, ranked in order of impact level from strongest to weakest as follows: Emotional attachment to the homeland; Impact of social relationships; Quality of living environment in the homeland; Dissatisfaction with personal life and Job opportunities in the homeland. Additionally, there are two factors: Dissatisfaction with personal life and Poor quality of living environment in HCMC that indirectly and positively affect the intention to return to work of laborers in Ho Chi Minh City through the mediating variable Dissatisfaction with personal life. Based on the above results, some policy implications have been proposed. The study proposes policy implications for localities on attracting investment, developing infrastructure, socio-economic development, and connecting labor supply and demand to create more job opportunities to attract workers to return and contribute to their hometowns.