Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2013
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     According to the figures released today (September 23) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.7% or 43 900 persons in June 2013 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 77 860, representing an increase of 10% or 7 020 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In June 2013, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 701 600 persons. The import and export trade engaged 491 700 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 265 400 persons, the retail trade 264 800 persons, and the food and beverage services 237 900 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 (15.1% or 10 800 persons); human health services (5.4% or 5 400 persons); information and communications (5.4% or 5 200 persons); accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (4.5% or 1 700 persons); and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (4.0% or 10 200 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-4.0% or -4 200 persons); and wholesale (-2.8% or -1 900 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 77 860 private sector vacancies, 11 360 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 8 680 from the import and export trade; 8 120 from the retail trade; 7 840 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 6 210 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.

     Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in June 2013 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in the industries of retail trade (1 220 or 18%); financing and insurance (870 or 20%); residential care and social work services (850 or 33%); import and export trade (830 or 10%); and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (690 or 20%). Yet, decreases were seen mainly in the industries of cleaning and similar services (-290 or -18%); and manufacturing (-290 or -10%). 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 (26 270 vacancies); associate professionals (19 030 vacancies); elementary occupations (12 260 vacancies); and clerical support workers (9 090 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 2013, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.5% and 1.2% respectively in June 2013. 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 manual workers only.

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

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies Statistics, June 2013
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2013
(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/Monday, September 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:31

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