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According to the figures released today (December 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.6% or 63 800 persons in September 2010 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 51 090, representing an increase of 32% or 12 310 over last year.
Employment statistics
In September 2010, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 528 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 499 300 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 242 700 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 238 600 persons, and the food and beverage services 215 100 persons.
Employment increased in nearly all surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of construction sites (17.8% or 8 500 persons); cleaning and similar services (16.1% or 9 700 persons); financing and insurance (6.0% or 10 900 persons); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (4.9% or 5 400 persons); and food and beverage services (3.0% or 6 300 persons). Yet, decrease was seen in the industry of manufacturing (-5.6% or -7 000 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 51 090 private sector vacancies, 6 690 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 6 030 from the import and export trade; 5 560 from the retail trade; 5 560 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services; and 5 220 from the financing and insurance.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in September 2010 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of import and export trade (2 570 or 74%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 390 or 76%); financing and insurance (1 400 or 37%); retail trade (1 340 or 32%); and information and communications (1 250 or 92%). Yet, decreases were seen in some selected industries, mainly in the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-400 or -10%). 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 (13 160 vacancies); associate professionals (12 880 vacancies); elementary occupations (8 770 vacancies) and clerks (8 180 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 June 2010, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed sectors increased by 0.4% and 4.4% respectively in September 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 (SEV) 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 September 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, December 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:46
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