According to the figures released today (March 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.8% or 20 900 persons in December 2022 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 73 150, representing an increase of 20% or 12 170 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In December 2022, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 702 000 persons. The import and export trade engaged 380 000 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 303 300 persons, retail trade 246 400 persons, financing and insurance 233 400 persons, and food and beverage services 223 000 persons.
 
     Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Decreases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of real estate (-3.4% or -4 900 persons), financing and insurance (-2.8% or -6 900 persons), manufacturing (-2.6% or -2 000 persons), and import and export trade (-2.3% or -8 800 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of wholesale (4.0% or 2 000 persons), human health services (2.9% or 4 200 persons), and food and beverage services (2.4% or 5 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 73 150 private sector vacancies in December 2022, 7 750 were from the industry of education; 7 390 from transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 6 510 from human health services; 6 180 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and another 6 180 from financing and insurance.
 
     Vacancies increased in all the selected industries except the import and export trade industry in December 2022 over a year earlier. More distinct increases were observed in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (3 830 or 107%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 350 or 42%), education (1 240 or 19%), human health services (970 or 17%), and residential care and social work services (960 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 (26 030 vacancies), professionals (13 970 vacancies), and associate professionals (11 680 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 2022, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.1% and 3.9% respectively in December 2022. 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 2022"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 2022"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)
 
     Users can 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/Monday, March 20, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:30

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