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According to the figures released today (December 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.2 % or 58 200 persons in September 2014 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 75 360, representing a decrease of 4% or 2 940 over the preceding year.
Employment statistics
In September 2014, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 764 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 491 900 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 274 000 persons, the retail trade 269 800 persons, and the food and beverage services 243 100 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 (manual workers only) (12.7% or 9 700 persons); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (5.4% or 6 500 persons); education (4.4% or 7 800 persons); human health services (3.7% or 3 900 persons); and food and beverage services (2.7% or 6 400 persons). On the other hand, employment held stable in the industry of cleaning and similar services and decreased in the industry of manufacturing (-1.2% or -1 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 75 360 private sector vacancies, 14 050 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 9 240 from the retail trade; 7 200 from the import and export trade; 6 840 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 5 070 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.
Vacancies decreased in more than half of the selected industries in September 2014 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly in the industries of import and export trade (-1 430 or -17%); financing and insurance (-960 or -17%); human health services (-690 or -21%); information and communications (-660 or -22%); and education (-550 or -14%). Yet, increases were seen in some industries, mainly in food and beverage services (1 180 or 9%); construction sites (manual workers only) (640 or 73%); and real estate (560 or 15%). 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 (25 990 vacancies); associate professionals (15 590 vacancies); elementary occupations (14 530 vacancies); and clerical support workers (8 230 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 June 2014, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.5% and decreased by 2.8% respectively in September 2014. 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, September 2014
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)
Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 2014
(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, December 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:30
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