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According to the figures released today (September 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.1% or 49 900 persons in June 2008 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 51 590, representing an increase of 12% or 5 730 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In June 2008, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 480 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 521 300 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 239 800 persons, the business services sector 237 600 persons and restaurants 207 500 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 (7.2% or 12 400), the medical, health and related services sector (4.6% or 3 800), the business services sector (4.5% or 10 200), education services and research institutes (3.5% or 5 100) and the recreational and other personal services sector (3.5% or 4 100). On the other hand, employment decreased in the wholesale trade (-3.7% or -2 500), the manufacturing sector (-3.2% or -5 100) and at construction sites (-3.0% or -1 500). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 51 590 private sector vacancies, 8 100 were from the import and export trade, 6 120 from the business services sector, 5 390 from the retail trade, 4 820 from the financing and insurance sector, and 4 670 from restaurants.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected sectors in June 2008 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly from the recreational and other personal services sector (1 330 or 41%), the retail trade (1 170 or 28%), the medical, health and related services sector (980 or 61%), restaurants (870 or 23%) and the business services sector (630 or 12%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the financing and insurance sector (-390 or -7%), the wholesale trade (-170 or -16%) and the transport and storage sector (-160 or -8%). 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 15 960 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 10 560 and clerks 9 430. 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 0.4% in June 2008, while total vacancies showed a decrease of 0.5%. 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 June 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, September 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:15
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