*****************************************************
According to the figures released today (March 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment for the surveyed sectors as a whole increased by 2.0% or 46 600 persons in December 2005 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies in the private sector surveyed was 36 510, representing an increase of 25% or 7 280 in number over last year.
Employment Statistics
In December 2005, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 348 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 510 400 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 221 900 persons, the business services sector 210 900 persons, and restaurants 193 900 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Distinct increases in employment were recorded in hotels and boarding houses (11.4% or 2 900), the real estate sector (9.6% or 8 400), the recreational and other personal services sector (6.8% or 7 100), restaurants (4.6% or 8 500) and the financing and insurance sector (4.1% or 6 100). On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-11.1% or -6 700), in the communications sector (-4.9% or -1 400), and the welfare and community services sector (-2.6% or -1 600). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the private sector vacancies, 6 940 were from the import and export trade, 3 950 from the financing and insurance sector, 3 790 from the business services sector, and 3 740 from the retail trade.
Vacancies increased significantly in most of the selected sectors in December 2005 over a year earlier. Most increases were from restaurants (110% or 1 880), the import and export trade (23% or 1 300), the retail trade (42% or 1 110), and the financing and insurance sector (38% or 1 090). Job vacancies figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 2.
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly for associate professionals with 11 220 reported vacancies, service workers and shop sales workers 8 840, and clerks 6 940. 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 the quarterly changes in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with the previous quarter, the seasonally adjusted total employment in the surveyed sectors increased by 0.7% in December 2005 while the total vacancies showed a decrease of 1.2%. The quarter-to-quarter changes 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 Census and Statistics Department. 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 manual workers working at major construction sites only.
Detailed breakdowns of the above statistics are published in the December 2005 issue of Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics and Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites. The above publications are now on sale at HK$30 and HK$25 per copy respectively. Both print versions and download versions of publications can be purchased online at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (http://www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk). Download versions of publications can be purchased at 75% of their original prices exclusively at the online Statistical Bookstore. Print versions if purchased online are also offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices at the Statistical Bookstore as well as the Government Bookstore (http://www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm). For purchase of print versions, this can be done through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website ((http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/eng/prod_serv/forms_index.html). Purchase can also be made in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address: 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel.: 2582 3025; Fax: 2827 1708).
Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section, Census and Statistics Department (Tel.: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:18
NNNN