Employment and vacancies statistics for December 2017
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     According to the figures released today (March 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.0% or 28 100 persons in December 2017 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 74 040, representing an increase of 10% or 6 900 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In December 2017, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 857 900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 477 800 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 296 100 persons, the retail trade 269 300 persons, and the food and beverage services 243 600 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) (9.2% or 10 400 persons), human health services (3.5% or 4 300 persons), financing and insurance (2.0% or 4 500 persons), and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1.8% or 5 100 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-3.6% or -3 500 persons), and import and export trade (-0.7% or -3 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 74 040 private sector vacancies, 12 120 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 7 800 from retail trade, 7 020 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 5 980 from import and export trade, and 5 670 from financing and insurance.
 
     Vacancies increased in many selected industries in December 2017 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of human health services (2 510 or 155%), financing and insurance (700 or 14%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (690 or 11%), manufacturing (540 or 26%), and construction sites (manual workers only) (520 or 62%). On the other hand, decreases in vacancies were mainly seen in the industries of real estate (-190 or -5%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-160 or -3%). 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 (22 670 vacancies), associate professionals (14 200 vacancies), elementary occupations (13 920 vacancies), and clerical support workers (7 710 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 2017, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.2% and 6.6% respectively in December 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, December 2017"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 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/Thursday, March 22, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:30

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