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Employment and vacancies statistics for December 2012
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     According to the figures released today (March 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.3% or 34 800 persons in December 2012 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 65 100, representing an increase of 18% or 9 950 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In December 2012, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 665 000 persons. The import and export trade engaged 491 300 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 260 200 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 259 100 persons, and the food and beverage services 236 000 persons.

     Employment increased in most of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (9.2% or 3 200 persons); human health services (5.0% or 4 900 persons); information and communications (4.2% or 3 900 persons); real estate (3.0% or 3 600 persons); and residential care and social work services (2.9% or 1 700 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-4.6% or -5 100 persons); and import and export trade (-0.9% or -4 500 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 65 100 private sector vacancies, 10 920 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 7 560 from the retail trade; 7 060 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 690 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services; and 6 460 from the import and export trade.

     Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in December 2012 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of food and beverage services (2 700 or 33%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 290 or 22%); retail trade (1 280 or 20%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 270 or 23%). Yet, decrease was seen mainly in the industry of human health services (-790 or -37%). 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 and sales workers (21 910 vacancies); associate professionals (12 460 vacancies); elementary occupations (10 900 vacancies); and clerical support workers (9 960 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 September 2012, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by less than 0.05% and 6.2% respectively in December 2012. 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 manual workers only.

     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, December 2012
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 2012
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)

     Users can download these publications free of charge from the website of the C&SD.

     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; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:30

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