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 0.7% or 19 900 persons in September 2016 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 69 340, representing a decrease of 7% or 5 330 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In September 2016, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 814 500 persons. The import and export trade engaged 481 300 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 288 800 persons, the retail trade 266 500 persons, and the food and beverage services 243 000 persons.

     Employment increased in the majority of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (15.0% or 14 100 persons), human health services (4.3% or 5 000 persons), residential care and social work services (3.2% or 1 900 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (2.5% or 7 000 persons), and education (1.8% or 3 500 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-4.4% or -4 300 persons); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-2.1% or -2 600 persons); wholesale (-1.3% or -800 persons); and accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (-1.2% or -400 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 69 340 private sector vacancies, 11 680 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 280 from retail trade, 6 480 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 5 750 from import and export trade, and 5 420 from financing and insurance.

     Vacancies decreased in the majority of the selected industries in September 2016 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-1 210 or -9%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-810 or -13%); import and export trade (-730 or -11%); human health services (-680 or -23%); and manufacturing (-600 or -22%). On the other hand, increases in vacancies were seen in the industries of financing and insurance (490 or 10%), information and communications (210 or 8%), and wholesale (160 or 14%). 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 and sales workers (23 620 vacancies), associate professionals (12 580 vacancies), elementary occupations (12 570 vacancies), and clerical support workers (7 960 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 2016, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.3% and 4.9% respectively in September 2016. The changes over three-month periods 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 manual workers only.

     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, September 2016 (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 2016 (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)

     Users can download these publications free of charge at the website of the C&SD.

     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; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:30

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