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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 3.0% or 74 400 persons in March 2011 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 57 190, representing an increase of 24% or 11 230 over last year.
Employment statistics
In March 2011, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 584 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 500 600 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 251 300 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 243 000 persons, and the food and beverage services 229 900 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 (15.0% or 9 700 persons); construction sites (9.1% or 4 900 persons); food and beverage services (6.5% or 14 000 persons); real estate (6.5% or 7 100 persons); and financing and insurance (6.4% or 11 900 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased in the industries of manufacturing (-6.1% or -7 500 persons) and wholesale (-0.3% or -200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 57 190 private sector vacancies, 7 310 were from the industry of import and export trade; 6 750 from the food and beverage services; 6 210 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 030 from the retail trade; and 4 990 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.
Vacancies increased in nearly all selected industries in March 2011 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of import and export trade (1 950 or 36%); food and beverage services (1 370 or 25%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 360 or 28%); retail trade (1 160 or 24%); and human health services (900 or 36%). Yet, decrease was seen in the industry of wholesale (-210 or -18%). 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 (15 230 vacancies); associate professionals (15 060 vacancies); elementary occupations (8 400 vacancies); and clerks (8 320 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 2010, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 1.2% and 3.6% respectively in March 2011. 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 and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites 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 2011 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 and Central Register of Establishments Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, June 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:34
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