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According to the figures released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment for the surveyed sectors as a whole increased by 2.0% or 47 200 persons in March 2006 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies in the private sector surveyed was 45 540, representing an increase of 23% or 8 450 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In March 2006, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 357 200 persons. The import and export trade engaged 513 300 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 225 900 persons, the business services sector 212 900 persons, and restaurants 193 400 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in hotels and boarding houses (9.3% or 2 400), the real estate sector (8.2% or 7 400), the recreational and other personal services sector (5.8% or 6 300), restaurants (4.8% or 8 700) and the retail trade (4.6% or 9 900). On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-16.5% or -10 900), in the wholesale trade (-3.1% or -2 200), and the manufacturing sector (-1.0% or -1 600). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the private sector vacancies, 9 530 were from the import and export trade, 5 440 from the business services sector, 4 820 from the retail trade, and 4 740 from the financing and insurance sector.
Vacancies increased significantly in most of the selected sectors in March 2006 over a year earlier. Most increases were from the retail trade (59% or 1 780), restaurants (79% or 1 490), the financing and insurance sector (43% or 1 420), and the real estate sector (39% or 950). 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 15 810 reported vacancies, service workers and shop sales workers 10 130, and clerks 8 060. 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 0.6% in March 2006, while total vacancies showed an increase of 3.6%. 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 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 March 2006 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 at the "Statistical Bookstore, Hong Kong" (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) of the C&SD. Print versions of these publications are available for sale at HK$32 and HK$26 per issue respectively. Purchase can be done in person at the Publications Unit of the C&SD (Address : 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai; Tel. : 2582 3025) or through mail order by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the C&SD's website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/other_services/provision_of_stat/mail_ordering_of_publications/index.jsp). Print versions of these publications are also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.isd.gov.hk/eng/bookorder.htm). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
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/Thursday, June 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:16
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