Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2017
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     According to the figures released today (September 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 0.8% or 23 800 persons in June 2017 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 69 590, representing an increase of 2% or 1 390 over the preceding year.
      
Employment statistics

     In June 2017, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 831 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 480 300 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 292 100 persons, the retail trade 267 800 persons, and the food and beverage services 242 600 persons.
      
     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (6.2% or 6 600 persons), human health services (3.3% or 3 900 persons), education (2.0% or 3 800 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1.9% or 5 600 persons), financing and insurance (1.4% or 3 100 persons), and information and communications (1.4% or 1 500 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-2.8% or -2 700 persons); wholesale (-0.9% or -500 persons); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-0.6% or -700 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
      
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 69 590 private sector vacancies, 11 150 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 7 080 from retail trade, 6 760 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 6 210 from import and export trade, and 5 740 from financing and insurance.
      
     In June 2017, year-on-year increases in vacancies were mainly observed in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (960 or 176%); financing and insurance (510 or 10%); import and export trade (390 or 7%); and accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (330 or 19%). On the other hand, decreases in vacancies were mainly seen in the industries of professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-470 or -6%); education (-350 or -9%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-320 or -7%). 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 (21 110 vacancies), associate professionals (14 190 vacancies), elementary occupations (13 090 vacancies), and clerical support workers (6 910 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 2017, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.1% and decreased by 1.7% respectively in June 2017. The changes over three-month periods 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 2017"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2017"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)
      
     Users can download these publications free of charge at 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/Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:30

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