Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2018
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     According to the figures released today (September 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.4% or 40 100 persons in June 2018 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 79 200, representing an increase of 14% or 9 610 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In June 2018, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 871 500 persons. The import and export trade engaged 477 600 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 301 600 persons, the retail trade 272 100 persons, and the food and beverage services 249 900 persons.
 
     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (4.5% or 1 700 persons), human health services (3.4% or 4 300 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (3.3% or 9 500 persons), food and beverage services (3.0% or 7 300 persons), and construction sites (manual workers only) (2.9% or 3 300 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-3.8% or -3 600 persons), and cleaning and similar services (-1.6% or -1 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 79 200 private sector vacancies, 12 060 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 7 980 from retail trade, 7 870 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 6 440 from import and export trade, and 6 210 from financing and insurance.
 
     Vacancies increased in majority of the selected industries in June 2018 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of human health services (1 980 or 111%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 110 or 16%); transportation, storage, postal and courier services (1 100 or 31%); food and beverage services (910 or 8%); and retail trade (900 or 13%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased mainly in the industry of construction sites (manual workers only) (-930 or -62%). 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 (21 750 vacancies), associate professionals (15 660 vacancies), elementary occupations (15 190 vacancies), and clerical support workers (9 430 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 2018, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.4% and 3.5% respectively in June 2018. 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 2018"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2018"
(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, September 20, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:30

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