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Employment and Vacancies Statistics for September 2006
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    According to the figures released today (December 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.3% or 52 900 persons in September 2006 compared with a year earlier.  Total number of vacancies was 43 620, which was similar to that of last year.
 
Employment Statistics

     In September 2006, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 381 800 persons.  The import and export trade engaged 518 200 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 228 600 persons, the business services sector 219 500 persons and restaurants 196 100 persons.

     Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier.  Increases in employment were recorded in the education services and research institutes (7.5% or 9 700), the business services sector (6.4% or 13 100), hotels and boarding houses (5.9% or 1 700), restaurants (5.5% or 10 200) and the financing and insurance sector (5.3% or 8 300).  On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-6.3% or -3 500), in the wholesale trade (-5.5% or -3 800) and the manufacturing sector (-3.7% or -6 100).  Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies Statistics

     Among the private sector vacancies, 7 010 were from the import and export trade, 5 180 from the financing and insurance sector, 4 620 from the business services sector and 4 550 from restaurants.

     Vacancies increased in some of the selected sectors in September 2006 over a year earlier.  Most increases were from restaurants (950 or 26%), education services and research institutes (850 or 61%), the real estate sector (380 or 15%), the medical, health and related services sector (350 or 40%) and the financing and insurance sector (320 or 6%).  On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the import and export trade (-940 or -12%) and the communications sector (-490 or -43%), the transport and storage sector (-440 or -20%) and the retail trade (-440 or -9%).  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 13 690 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 11 050 and clerks 7 430.  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 and total vacancies in the private sector increased by 0.5% and 3.1% respectively in September 2006.  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 September 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, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).


Ends/Thursday, December 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:15

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