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 1.0% or 29 300 persons in September 2017 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 71 150, representing an increase of 3% or 1 810 over the preceding year.
      
Employment statistics

     In September 2017, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 843 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 478 800 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 292 800 persons, the retail trade 267 100 persons, and the food and beverage services 244 100 persons.
      
     Employment increased in majority 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 13 700 persons), human health services (3.2% or 4 000 persons), financing and insurance (1.9% or 4 200 persons), education (1.4% or 2 700 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1.4% or 4 000 persons), and residential care and social work services (1.4% or 900 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-3.4% or -3 300 persons), import and export trade (-0.5% or -2 500 persons), and wholesale (-0.3% or -200 persons).  Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
      
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 71 150 private sector vacancies, 10 780 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 130 from retail trade, 6 740 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 6 300 from import and export trade, and 5 510 from financing and insurance.
      
     Vacancies increased in many selected industries in September 2017 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of human health services (570 or 25%); import and export trade (550 or 10%); residential care and social work services (440 or 14%); and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (390 or 12%). On the other hand, decreases in vacancies were mainly seen in the industries of food and beverage services (-900 or -8%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-460 or -9%); and retail trade (-150 or -2%). 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 (21 780 vacancies), associate professionals (13 960 vacancies), elementary occupations (13 850 vacancies), and clerical support workers (7 470 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 2017, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.4% and 3.8% respectively in September 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, September 2017"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 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, December 19, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:30

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