Employment and vacancies statistics for December 2024
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Employment statistics
In December 2024, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 715 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 354 500 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 311 500 persons, financing and insurance 233 300 persons, retail trade 232 700 persons, and food and beverage services 220 900 persons.
Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of wholesale (-5.4% or -2 700 persons), retail trade (-5.3% or -13 000 persons), import and export trade (-2.2% or -8 100 persons), and food and beverage services (-1.6% or -3 600 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of real estate (4.6% or 6 400 persons), human health services (3.5% or 5 400 persons), and residential care and social work services (3.1% or 2 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 58 410 private sector vacancies in December 2024, 5 950 were from the industry of education, 5 670 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 5 480 from food and beverage services, 4 990 from residential care and social work services, and 4 920 from financing and insurance.
Vacancies decreased in majority of the selected industries in December 2024 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of human health services (-2 560 or -40%), education (-1 970 or -25%), retail trade (-1 630 or -30%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-1 570 or -29%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industry of import and export trade (410 or 15%). 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 (22 190 vacancies), professionals (9 520 vacancies), and associate professionals (8 730 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 2024, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.1% and 5.3% respectively in December 2024. 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 2024"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 2024"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)
Users can browse and 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 Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, March 21, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:30
Issued at HKT 16:30
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