According to the figures released today (December 19) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 1.4% or 39 400 persons in September 2019 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 63 030, representing a decrease of 20% or 15 310 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In September 2019, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 832 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 444 600 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 307 300 persons, retail trade 267 000 persons, food and beverage services 239 200 persons, and financing and insurance 237 400 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) (-10.0% or -10 700 persons), import and export trade (-6.6% or -31 400 persons), wholesale (-5.2% or -3 100 persons), and food and beverage services (-4.9% or -12 400 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of human health services (4.8% or 6 300 persons), residential care and social work services (2.7% or 1 700 persons), and financing and insurance (2.7% or 6 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 63 030 private sector vacancies, 7 080 were from the industry of professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 6 140 from financing and insurance, 5 970 from retail trade, 5 240 from import and export trade, and 5 160 from food and beverage services.

     Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in September 2019 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-6 900 or -57%); retail trade (-2 040 or -26%); accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (-1 110 or -50%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-1 070 or -20%); and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 040 or -13%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of residential care and social work services (370 or 10%), education (310 or 6%), and financing and insurance (110 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 (14 880 vacancies), associate professionals (13 940 vacancies), elementary occupations (12 180 vacancies), and clerical support workers (8 230 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 2019, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.9% and 12.6% respectively in September 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, September 2019" (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 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, December 19, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:30

NNNN