According to the figures released today (March 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 0.8% or 21 800 persons in December 2016 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 67 140, representing a decrease of 6% or 4 100 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In December 2016, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 829 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 481 000 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 291 000 persons, the retail trade 267 500 persons, and the food and beverage services 243 300 persons.

     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (10.2% or 10 400 persons), human health services (4.2% or 5 000 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (2.9% or 8 300 persons), and education (2.3% or 4 500 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-4.1% or -4 000 persons); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-3.1% or -3 900 persons); wholesale (-1.2% or -800 persons); and accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (-1.1% or -400 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 67 140 private sector vacancies, 11 810 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 7 370 from retail trade, 6 330 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 5 990 from import and export trade, and 4 970 from financing and insurance.

     Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in December 2016 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of financing and insurance (-1 160 or -19%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 010 or -14%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-700 or -13%); retail trade (-580 or -7%); and information and communications (-450 or -14%). On the other hand, increases in vacancies were seen in the industries of import and export trade (350 or 6%), wholesale (270 or 33%), and construction sites (manual workers only) (200 or 30%). 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 (22 490 vacancies), elementary occupations (12 690 vacancies), associate professionals (12 010 vacancies), and clerical support workers (8 170 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 September 2016, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.2% and 0.7% respectively in December 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, December 2016
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 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, March 21, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:30

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