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According to the figures released today (December 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.2% or 54,400 persons in September 2008 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 47,760, representing a decrease of 9% or 4,550 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In September 2008, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2,488,900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 518,100 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 241,100 persons, the business services sector 240,300 persons and restaurants 210,500 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 (5.8% or 10,300), education services and research institutes (5.7% or 8,000), the medical, health and related services sector (5.1% or 4,300), the communications sector (5.0% or 1,500) and hotels and boarding houses (4.8% or 1,500). On the other hand, employment decreased in the manufacturing sector (-3.0% or -4,800), at construction sites (-2.1% or -1,100) and wholesale trade (-1.8% or -1,200). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 47,760 private sector vacancies, 6,150 were from the import and export trade, 5,800 from the business services sector, 5,630 from the retail trade, 4,860 from the recreational and other personal services sector, and 4,760 from restaurants.
Vacancies decreased in most of the selected sectors in September 2008 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly in the financing and insurance sector (-1,380 or -26%), the import and export trade (-1,310 or -18%) and restaurants (-1,030 or -18%). Yet increases were seen in the medical, health and related services sector (730 or 55%), the retail trade (500 or 10%), the recreational and other personal services sector (450 or 10%) and the sanitary and similar services sector (270 or 47%). 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 13,200 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 11,610 and clerks 8,600. 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 0.6% in September 2008, while total vacancies showed a decrease of 11.2%. 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 September 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, December 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:33
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