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According to the figures released today (March 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.2% or 54 500 persons in December 2010 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 48 140, representing an increase of 39% or 13 580 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In December 2010, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 559 200 persons. The import and export trade engaged 500 800 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 248 300 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 241 700 persons, and the food and beverage services 221 900 persons.
Employment increased in nearly all surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of cleaning and similar services (10.6% or 7 000 persons); financing and insurance (5.8% or 10 800 persons); accommodation services (4.8% or 1 500 persons); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (4.7% or 5 200 persons); and construction sites (4.3% or 2 200 persons). Yet, decrease was seen in the industry of manufacturing (-5.9% or -7 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 48 140 private sector vacancies, 7 080 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 5 730 from the import and export trade; 4 940 from the retail trade; 4 890 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services; and 4 860 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services).
Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in December 2010 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of food and beverage services (2 900 or 69%); import and export trade (1 830 or 47%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 610 or 49%); financing and insurance (1 530 or 53%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 340 or 38%). Yet, decreases were seen in some selected industries, mainly in the industry of wholesale (-150 or -16%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service workers and shop sales workers (14 280 vacancies); associate professionals (10 150 vacancies); clerks (7 690 vacancies) and elementary occupations (7 210 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.
Seasonally Adjusted Statistics
For discerning the latest trend in employment and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with September 2010, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.7% and 12.6% respectively in December 2010. The changes over three-month period in the seasonally adjusted series of employment and vacancies are shown in Table 4.
Other Information
The above employment and vacancies statistics were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites (Site Survey) conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective employment and vacancies figures relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancies figures relate to only manual workers working at major construction sites.
Detailed breakdowns of the above statistics are published in the December 2010 issue of Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics and Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites. Users can download these publications free of charge from the website of the C&SD at www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/labour/index.jsp .
Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, March 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:33
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