According to the figures released today (September 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.3% or 7 800 persons in June 2019 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 73 460, representing a decrease of 7% or 5 740 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In June 2019, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 863 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 453 500 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 307 900 persons, the retail trade 271 200 persons, and the food and beverage services 251 600 persons.

     Employment decreased in some of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Decreases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-11.5% or -13 400 persons), import and export trade (-5.1% or -24 100 persons), wholesale (-3.1% or -1 800 persons), and manufacturing (-2.7% or -2 400 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of human health services (4.5% or 5 800 persons), financing and insurance (3.5% or 8 000 persons), and accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (3.0% or 1 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 73 460 private sector vacancies, 9 140 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 140 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 7 650 from retail trade, 6 450 from financing and insurance, and 5 440 from import and export trade.

     Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in June 2019 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-2 920 or -24%); import and export trade (-1 000 or -16%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-880 or -16%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of education (830 or 20%), residential care and social work services (610 or 16%), and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (270 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 (20 180 vacancies), associate professionals (15 030 vacancies), elementary occupations (14 430 vacancies), and clerical support workers (8 610 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 2019, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.1% and 6.3% respectively in June 2019. 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 2019"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2019"
(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 19, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:30

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