Table 2 : Vacancies (other than those in the Civil Service)
by selected major sector

Number of vacancies Percentage change
Selected major sector

Dec.
1999

Sep.
2000

Dec.
2000

Dec. 2000
over
Dec. 1999
Dec. 2000
over
Sep. 2000 *
Manufacturing

2 040

2 180

1 720

-15.5

-12.2

(0.8)

(0.9)

(0.8)

Construction sites (vacancies 220

280

180

-17.7

   -35.6 #

    for manual workers only) (0.3)

(0.3)

(0.2)

Wholesale, retail and 9 770

14 650

9 780

+0.1

-18.6

    import/export trades,

(1.0)

(1.4)

(1.0)

    restaurants and hotels
Transport, storage and 1 450

2 260

1 420

-1.9

-10.9

    communications (0.8)

(1.2)

(0.8)

Financing, insurance, real 6 730

10 260

7 060

+4.9

-23.5

    estate and business services

(1.6)

(2.3)

(1.6)

Community, social and 5 080

6 140

5 100

+0.6

   -16.9 #

     personal services

(1.5)

(1.7)

(1.4)

Notes : (1) Figures relate only to those industries covered in the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites.
(2) Figures in brackets denote the vacancy rate, defined as the ratio (in terms of percentage) of the number of vacancies to the number of job opportunities (i.e. the sum of the number of persons engaged and the number of vacancies).
* Figures are compiled based on the seasonally adjusted figures unless otherwise specified.  The seasonally adjusted data series, and hence its percentage change, are subject to routine revision when more up-to-date figures become available.
# Figures are compiled based on the original series (i.e. not seasonally adjusted data series) as no clear seasonal pattern is displayed in this sector.