Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2012
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     According to the figures released today (September 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.3% or 60 100 persons in June 2012 compared with a year earlier.  The total number of vacancies was 70 840, representing an increase of 25% or 14 190 over last year.

Employment statistics

     In June 2012, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 657 700 persons.  The import and export trade engaged 493 900 persons, followed by the retail trade engaging 259 400 persons, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) 255 200 persons, and the food and beverage services 235 700 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 (22.4% or 13 100 persons); accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (7.8% or 2 600 persons); information and communications (5.3% or 4 800 persons); real estate (4.7% or 5 600 persons) and human health services (4.3% or 4 200 persons).  On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-5.4% or -6 200 persons); and import and export trade (-0.6% or -2 900 persons).  Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 70 840 private sector vacancies, 11 150 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 7 850 from the import and export trade; 7 740 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 900 from the retail trade; and 6 340 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.

     Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in June 2012 over a year earlier.  Increases were mainly in the industries of food and beverage services (3 870 or 53%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 470 or 64%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (2 080 or 37%); retail trade (1 700 or 33%); and import and export trade (880 or 13%).  Yet, decreases were seen mainly in the industries of financing and insurance (-480 or -10%) and real estate (-270 or -9%).  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 (19 680 vacancies); associate professionals (17 120 vacancies); elementary occupations (12 720 vacancies); and clerical support workers (9 440 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 March 2012, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.8% and 5.7% respectively in June 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 only manual workers working at major construction sites.

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

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

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 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/Thursday, September 20, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:30

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