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According to the figures released today (September 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 3.2% or 80 600 persons in June 2011 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 56 650, representing an increase of 25% or 11 430 over last year.
Employment statistics
In June 2011, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 597 600 persons. The import and export trade engaged 496 800 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 252 000 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 245 500 persons, and the food and beverage services 232 100 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of cleaning and similar services (11.3% or 7 600 persons); real estate (7.9% or 8 700 persons); food and beverage services (7.7% or 16 600 persons); financing and insurance (6.3% or 12 000 persons); and accommodation services (6.1% or 2 000 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased in the industries of manufacturing (-5.0% or -6 000 persons) and import and export trade (-0.3% or -1 500 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 56 650 private sector vacancies, 7 280 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 6 970 from the import and export trade; 5 660 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 5 200 from the retail trade; and 4 870 from the financing and insurance.
Vacancies increased in nearly all selected industries in June 2011 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of import and export trade (1 470 or 27%); food and beverage services (1 420 or 24%); human health services (1 140 or 44%); transportation, storage, postal and courier services (1 030 or 52%); and financing and insurance (820 or 20%). Yet, decrease was seen in the industry of information and communications (-110 or -5%). 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 associate professionals (16 460 vacancies); service workers and shop sales workers (14 520 vacancies); elementary occupations (8 420 vacancies); and clerks (7 000 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 March 2011, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.6% and 3.5% respectively in June 2011. 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 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.
A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the June 2011 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 and Central Register of Establishments Section, C&SD (Tel.: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; e-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, September 19, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:32
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