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According to the figures released today (June 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.8% or 68 100 persons in March 2010 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 45 960, representing an increase of 65% or 18 180 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In March 2010, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 510 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 499 700 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 240 600 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 235 200 persons, and the food and beverage services 215 900 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of cleaning and similar services (14.3% or 8 100), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (6.8% or 7 300), education (5.5% or 8 600) and real estate (5.1% or 5 300). On the other hand, employment decreased in the industries of manufacturing (-2.5% or -3 100) and accommodation services (-1.9% or -600). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 45 960 private sector vacancies, 5 380 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 5 360 from the import and export trade, 4 870 from the retail trade, 4 850 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 4 510 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.
Vacancies increased in all selected industries in March 2010 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of import and export trade (2 580 or 93%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 570 or 132%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (2 060 or 74%), retail trade (1 980 or 68%) and financing and insurance (1 930 or 109%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of service workers and shop sales workers (12 470 vacancies), associate professionals (12 050 vacancies), clerks (6 720 vacancies) and elementary occupations (6 640 vacancies). 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 changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with December 2009, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed sectors increased by 0.7% and 13.3% respectively in March 2010. The changes over three-month period 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 2010 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 from the website of the C&SD at www.censtatd.gov.hk/products_and_services/products/publications/statistical_report/labour/index.jsp.
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/Monday, June 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:33
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