Employment and vacancies statistics for March 2015
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     According to the figures released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.9% or 53 000 persons in March 2015 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 78 070, which was similar to that a year earlier.

Employment statistics

     In March 2015, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 793 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 487 700 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 281 600 persons, the retail trade 271 500 persons, and the food and beverage services 243 500 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) (16.9% or 13 300 persons); education (5.0% or 9 000 persons); human health services (4.6% or 5 000 persons); cleaning and similar services (2.9% or 2 300 persons); transportation, storage, postal and courier services (2.8% or 4 900 persons); and financing and insurance (2.8% or 5 900 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industry of manufacturing (-3.1% or -3 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 78 070 private sector vacancies, 13 590 were from the industry of food and beverage services; 8 550 from the retail trade; 7 620 from the import and export trade; 7 520 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 5 630 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services.

     Vacancies increased in more than half of the selected industries in March 2015 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of human health services (1 690 or 116%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 370 or 32%); residential care and social work services (740 or 29%); financing and insurance (550 or 14%); and real estate (410 or 10%). Yet, decreases were seen in some industries, mainly food and beverage services (-2 280 or -14%); retail trade (-1 130 or -12%); construction sites (manual workers only) (-750 or -46%); and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-630 or -8%). 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 (28 980 vacancies); associate professionals (14 980 vacancies); elementary occupations (13 530 vacancies); and clerical support workers (9 160 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 December 2014, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.2% and decreased by 6.2% respectively in March 2015. 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, March 2015
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2015
(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, June 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:33

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