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According to the figures released today (September 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.6% or 60 500 persons in June 2007 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 45 860, representing an increase of 10% or 4 350 over last year.
Employment Statistics
In June 2007, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2 430 900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 520 000 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 232 600 persons, the business services sector 227 400 persons and restaurants 201 600 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the financing and insurance sector (7.7% or 12 400), the sanitary and similar services sector (7.0% or 4 000), hotels and boarding houses (7.0% or 2 000), the medical, health and related services sector (5.5% or 4 400) and the business services sector (4.8% or 10 300). On the other hand, employment decreased in the manufacturing sector (-2.3% or -3 800) and at construction sites (-2.2% or -1 200). Employment figures for selected major sectors are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies Statistics
Among the 45 860 private sector vacancies, 8 010 were from the import and export trade, 5 490 from the business services sector, 5 210 from the financing and insurance sector, 4 220 from the retail trade, and 3 800 from restaurants.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected sectors in June 2007 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly from the business services sector (760 or 16%), the financing and insurance sector (630 or 14%), the import and export trade (560 or 7%), the recreational and other personal services sector (500 or 18%) and the welfare and community services sector (430 or 34%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased in the communications sector (-30 or -4%) and the manufacturing sector (-30 or -2%). 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 14 970 reported ones, service workers and shop sales workers 9 770 and clerks 7 820. 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 in the surveyed sectors increased by 0.7% in June 2007, while total vacancies showed a decrease of 1.8%. 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 June 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, Census and Statistics Department (Tel: 2582 5076; Fax: 2827 2296; E-mail: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, September 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:16
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