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According to the figures released today (September 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.8% or 43 100 persons in June 2006 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 41 510, representing an increase of 9% or 3 530 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In June 2006, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 370 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 513 900 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 229 300 persons, the business services sector 217 100 persons, and restaurants 197 000 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in hotels and boarding houses (9.6% or 2 500), the real estate sector (5.7% or 5 300), restaurants (4.7% or 8 800), the business services sector (4.5% or 9 300), and the medical, health and related services sector (4.4% or 3 300). On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-12.9% or -7 700), in the communications sector (-5.9% or -1 900), and the wholesale trade (-5.4% or -3 900). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the private sector vacancies, 7 450 were from the import and export trade, 4 730 from the business services sector, 4 580 from the financing and insurance sector, and 3 830 from the retail trade.
Vacancies increased significantly in many of the selected sectors in June 2006 over a year earlier. Most increases were from restaurants (1 220 or 56%), education services and research institutes (730 or 57%), the business services sector (610 or 15%), the retail trade (570 or 17%), and the real estate sector (430 or 17%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the import and export trade (-860 or -10%) and the recreational and other personal services sector (-480 or -15%). 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 14 630 reported vacancies, service workers and shop sales workers 8 900, and clerks 7 020. 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 in the surveyed sectors increased by 0.2% in June 2006, while total vacancies showed a decrease of 6.9%. 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 June 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, September 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:15
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