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Employment and vacancies statistics for December 2013
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     According to the figures released today (March 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.4% or 62 900 persons in December 2013 compared with a year earlier.  The total number of vacancies was 72 380, representing an increase of 11% or 7 280 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In December 2013, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 727 900 persons.  The import and export trade engaged 490 300 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 274 300 persons, the retail trade 267 700 persons, and the food and beverage services 237 200 persons.

     Employment increased in most of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier.  Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (13.4% or 9 500 persons); accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (6.3% or 2 400 persons); information and communications (6.2% or 6 000 persons); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (5.9% or 15 200 persons); and human health services (4.9% or 5 100 persons).  On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-1.5% or -1 600 persons); and wholesale (-1.3% or -900 persons).  Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 72 380 private sector vacancies, 13 710 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 8 310 from the retail trade; 7 240 from the import and export trade; 6 990 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 6 530 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.

     Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in December 2013 over a year earlier.  Increases were mainly in the industries of food and beverage services (2 790 or 26%); import and export trade (780 or 12%); retail trade (750 or 10%); education (750 or 28%); and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (620 or 20%).  Yet, decreases were seen mainly in the industries of information and communications (-480 or -20%); and manufacturing (-380 or -14%).  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 (25 780 vacancies); associate professionals (13 640 vacancies); elementary occupations (13 620 vacancies); and clerical support workers (10 420 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 2013, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.7% and 2.9% respectively in December 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, December 2013
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 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/Friday, March 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30

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