According to the figures released today (March 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.3% or 35 000 persons in December 2021 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 60 980, representing an increase of 74% or 25 920 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In December 2021, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 722 900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 388 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 306 200 persons, retail trade 251 400 persons, financing and insurance 240 300 persons, and food and beverage services 217 800 persons.
 
     Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (10.9% or 10 500 persons), food and beverage services (7.4% or 15 100 persons), accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (7.0% or 2 400 persons), and real estate (5.7% or 7 800 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of manufacturing (-6.7% or -5 400 persons), and information and communications (-1.7% or -1 800 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 60 980 private sector vacancies in December 2021, 6 510 were from the industry of education, 6 160 from financing and insurance, 5 690 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 5 540 from human health services, 5 310 from food and beverage services, and 5 270 from retail trade.
 
     Vacancies increased in all the selected industries in December 2021 over a year earlier. Increases were more notable in the industries of food and beverage services (3 410 or 180%); human health services (3 350 or 153%); education (2 710 or 71%); retail trade (2 360 or 81%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 190 or 207%). 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 (15 520 vacancies), associate professionals (14 630 vacancies), and elementary occupations (10 050 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 2021, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.1% and 14.5% respectively in December 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, December 2021"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 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, March 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30

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