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According to the figures released today (March 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 0.5% or 13 000 persons in December 2008 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 32 150, representing a decrease of 33% or 15 920 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In December 2008, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 468 900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 512 700 persons, followed by the business services sector engaging 241 000 persons, the retail trade 239 600 persons and restaurants 207 300 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in education services and research institutes (5.6% or 8 100), the medical, health and related services sector (5.2% or 4 500), the business services sector (3.4% or 7 800), hotels and boarding houses (2.5% or 800) and the communications sector (2.3% or 700). On the other hand, employment decreased in the manufacturing sector (-3.9% or -6 000), wholesale trade (-2.8% or -1 900) and the import and export trade (-1.6% or -8 300). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 32 150 private sector vacancies, 5 340 were from restaurants, 3 610 from the retail trade, 3 460 from the business services sector, 3 370 from the import and export trade, and 3 090 from the recreational and other personal services sector.
Vacancies decreased in nearly all selected sectors in December 2008 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly in the import and export trade (-3 970 or -54%), the recreational and other personal services sector (-2 450 or -44%), the business services sector (-2 130 or -38%), the financing and insurance sector (-2 120 or -47%) and the transport and storage sector (-1 130 or -51%). Yet increase was seen in restaurants (550 or 11%). Job vacancies figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 2.
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly for service workers and shop sales workers with 9 490 reported ones, associate professionals 8 540 and elementary occupations 5 180. 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 September 2008, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed sectors decreased by 1.0% and 19.5% respectively in December 2008. The quarterly 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 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/statistical_report/labour/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, March 20, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:32
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