*****************************************************
According to the figures released today (March 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.8% or 71 000 persons in December 2011 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 55 150, representing an increase of 15% or 7 010 over last year.
Employment statistics
In December 2011, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 630 200 persons. The import and export trade engaged 495 800 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 255 000 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 252 600 persons, and the food and beverage services 231 300 persons.
Employment increased in most of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were recorded in the industries of construction sites (25.2% or 14 000 persons); real estate (8.6% or 9 800 persons); financing and insurance (5.6% or 10 900 persons); cleaning and similar services (5.0% or 3 600 persons); and information and communications (4.9% or 4 400 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-6.1% or -7 200 persons); and import and export trade (-1.0% or -5 000 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 55 150 private sector vacancies, 8 220 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 6 280 from the retail trade; 6 250 from the import and export trade; 5 770 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 5 420 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.
Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in December 2011 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of retail trade (1 340 or 27%); food and beverage services (1 140 or 16%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (910 or 19%); human health services (670 or 46%); and residential care and social work services (640 or 44%). Yet, decreases were seen in the industries of financing and insurance (-260 or -6%) and real estate (-100 or -4%). 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 (15 930 vacancies); associate professionals (13 230 vacancies); clerks (8 610 vacancies); and elementary occupations (8 440 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 2011, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.2% and 11.5% respectively in December 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.
A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the December 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/Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:30
NNNN
