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According to the figures released today (June 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.5% or 59,400 persons in March 2008 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 56,250, representing an increase of 14% or 6,920 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In March 2008, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2,467,200 persons. The import and export trade engaged 521,300 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 236,800 persons, the business services sector 235,300 persons and restaurants 205,600 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the financing and insurance sector (9.0% or 15,200), the medical, health and related services sector (6.6% or 5,400), the real estate (5.9% or 5,900), the transport and storage sector (4.9% or 7,600) and the business services sector (4.8% or 10,700). On the other hand, employment decreased in the manufacturing sector (-3.6% or ¡V5,600), the sanitary and similar services sector (-2.5% or ¡V1,500) and the wholesale trade (-1.3% or -800). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 56,250 private sector vacancies, 8,960 were from the import and export trade, 6,970 from the business services sector, 5,860 from the retail trade, 5,810 from the recreational and other personal services sector, and 5,200 from the financing and insurance sector.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected sectors in March 2008 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly from the recreational and other personal services sector (2,180 or 60%), the business services sector (1,100 or 19%), restaurants (1,000 or 28%), the retail trade (780 or 15%) and the medical, health and related services sector (720 or 42%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the import and export trade (-350 or -4%) and the real estate (-160 or -4%). 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 17,010 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 12,160 and clerks 11,430. 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 0.7% in March 2008, while total vacancies showed a decrease of 3.5%. 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 March 2008 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 website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/index.jsp). Print versions of these publications are available for sale at HK$33 and HK$28 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 Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk).
Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section, Census and Statistics Department (Tel.: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:16
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