According to the figures released today (September 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.4% or 65 100 persons in June 2023 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 81 460, representing an increase of 30% or 18 960 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In June 2023, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 738 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 376 100 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 308 900 persons, retail trade 251 900 persons, financing and insurance 234 900 persons, and food and beverage services 224 600 persons.
 
     Employment increased in majority of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (7.6% or 8 700 persons), construction sites (manual workers only) (7.4% or 7 600 persons), residential care and social work services (5.9% or 3 900 persons), and accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (5.5% or 1 800 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industry of import and export trade (-1.7% or -6 400 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 81 460 private sector vacancies in June 2023, 9 140 were from the industry of education; 7 500 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 7 020 from transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 6 600 from retail trade; and 6 230 from financing and insurance.
 
     Vacancies increased in almost all the selected industries in June 2023 over a year earlier. More distinct increases were observed in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (3 280 or 88%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 250 or 69%), construction sites (manual workers only) (2 130 or 336%), retail trade (1 720 or 35%), and education (1 700 or 23%). 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 (28 230 vacancies), professionals (14 610 vacancies), and associate professionals (12 010 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 March 2023, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.6% and 4.0% respectively in June 2023. 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, June 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)
 
     Users can browse and download these publications 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 of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
 

Ends/Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30

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