According to the figures released today (September 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.4% or 11 700 persons in June 2021 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 45 440, representing an increase of 16% or 6 320 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In June 2021, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 707 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 384 000 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 306 700 persons, retail trade 248 100 persons, financing and insurance 238 900 persons, and food and beverage services 215 000 persons.

     Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Decreases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of manufacturing (-6.0% or -5 000 persons); transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-4.2% or -7 400 persons); import and export trade (-3.5% or -13 800 persons); wholesale (-2.9% or -1 500 persons); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-2.7% or -3 300 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (8.6% or 8 500 persons), human health services (3.3% or 4 600 persons), accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (3.1% or 1 100 persons), and real estate (2.4% or 3 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 45 440 private sector vacancies in June 2021, 4 980 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 930 from education, 4 460 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 4 050 from residential care and social work services.

     Vacancies increased in all the selected industries except the information and communications industry in June 2021 over a year earlier. More distinct increases were observed in the industries of food and beverage services (1 100 or 52%); arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 010 or 73%); education (780 or 19%); transportation, storage, postal and courier services (650 or 28%); and real estate (620 or 24%). 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 associate professionals (10 580 vacancies), service and sales workers (9 880 vacancies), and elementary occupations (8 160 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 2021, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.6% and 14.1% respectively in June 2021. 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 2021"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2021"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)

     Users can download these publications 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, the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; fax: 2827 2296; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Monday, September 20, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:30

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