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According to the figures released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.1% or 50 600 persons in March 2007 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 49 330, representing an increase of 8% or 3 790 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In March 2007, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 407 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 520 800 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 229 100 persons, the business services sector 224 600 persons and restaurants 201 200 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in hotels and boarding houses (7.2% or 2 100), the financing and insurance sector (6.3% or 10 000), the medical, health and related services sector (5.9% or 4 600), the business services sector (5.5% or 11 700) and restaurants (4.0% or 7 800). On the other hand, employment decreased at construction sites (-8.3% or -4 500), in the manufacturing sector (-1.7% or -2 800) and the wholesale trade (-1.7% or -1 100). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 49 330 private sector vacancies, 9 310 were from the import and export trade, 5 870 from the business services sector, 5 080 from the retail trade, 5 050 from the financing and insurance sector and 3 700 from the real estate.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected sectors in March 2007 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly from the recreational and other personal services sector (730 or 25%), education services and research institutes (560 or 37%), the manufacturing sector (450 or 23%) and the business services sector (430 or 8%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the import and export trade (-220 or -2%) and the sanitary and similar services sector (-80 or -14%). Job vacancies figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 2.
Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly for associate professionals with 16 120 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 10 700 and clerks 9 820. 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 the previous quarter, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the private sector increased by 0.4% and 4.6% respectively in March 2007. The quarter-to-quarter 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 March 2007 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/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 Statistical Bookstore (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) and the Government Bookstore of the Information Services Department (www.bookstore.gov.hk). Print versions if purchased online are offered a discount, at 85% of their original prices.
Enquiries on more detailed employment and vacancies statistics can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; e-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:15
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