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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 2.4% or 56 600 persons in December 2006 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 38 580, representing an increase of 6% or 2 070 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In December 2006, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 405 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 519 200 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 229 400 persons, the business services sector 224 800 persons and restaurants 201 300 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in hotels and boarding houses (7.5% or 2 100), the business services sector (6.6% or 13 900), the financing and insurance sector (6.4% or 10 100), education services and research institutes (4.5% or 6 100) and the medical, health and related services sector (4.5% or 3 400). On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-6.3% or -3 500), in the manufacturing sector (-4.8% or -8 100) and the wholesale trade (-2.6% or -1 800). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 38 580 private sector vacancies, 6 170 were from the import and export trade, 4 390 from the business services sector, 4 230 from the retail trade, 3 890 from the recreational and other personal services sector and 3 600 from the financing and insurance sector.
Vacancies increased in some of the selected sectors in December 2006 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly from the recreational and other personal services sector (1 140 or 42%), the welfare and community services sector (630 or 49%), education services and research institutes (620 or 45%) and the business services sector (600 or 16%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the import and export trade (-770 or -11%), the manufacturing sector (-490 or -22%) and restaurants (-450 or -12%). 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 11 370 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 9 770 and clerks 7 180. 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 and total vacancies in the private sector increased by 0.7% and 5.1% respectively in December 2006. 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 December 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/Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:15
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