According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.4% or 10 100 persons in March 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 48 610, representing a decrease of 12% or 6 560 over the preceding year.

Persons engaged statistics

     In March 2026, the selected industries as a whole engaged 2 704 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 336 200 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 319 800 persons, financing and insurance 231 600 persons, retail trade 228 800 persons, education 220 600 persons, and food and beverage services 217 600 persons.

     Movements in the number of persons engaged in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of real estate (3.4% or 4 900 persons), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2.5% or 3 100 persons), and residential care and social work services (2.3% or 1 700 persons). On the other hand, the number of persons engaged decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-9.0% or -11 200 persons), import and export trade (-3.9% or -13 600 persons), transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-1.0% or -1 700 persons), retail trade (-0.9% or -2 000 persons), and wholesale (-0.9% or -400 persons). Number of persons engaged for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 48 610 private sector vacancies in March 2026, 4 900 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 680 from education, another 4 680 from residential care and social work services, 4 620 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 3 630 from food and beverage services.

     Vacancies decreased in majority of the selected industries in March 2026 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-1 230 or -25%), education (-980 or -17%), human health services (-790 or -22%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-750 or -21%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of financing and insurance (240 or 5%), and manufacturing (130 or 7%). 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 services and sales workers (16 550 vacancies), associate professionals (9 440 vacancies), and professionals (8 480 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.

Seasonally adjusted statistics

     For discerning the latest trend in the number of persons engaged 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 December 2025, the seasonally adjusted total number of persons engaged and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.3% and increased by 1.6% respectively in March 2026. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of persons engaged and vacancies are shown in Table 4.

Other information

     The above statistics on persons engaged and vacancies 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 figures for persons engaged and vacancies relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, the number of persons engaged and vacancies relate to manual workers only.

     A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:
"Quarterly Report of Persons Engaged and Vacancies Statistics, March 2026"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2026"
(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 statistics on persons engaged and vacancies can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

Ends/Monday, June 22, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30

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