According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (September 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.1% or 2 100 persons in June 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 45 380, representing a decrease of 8% or 4 150 over the preceding year.

Persons engaged statistics

     In June 2026, the selected industries as a whole engaged 2 697 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 342 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314 100 persons, financing and insurance 234 300 persons, retail trade 227 500 persons, and food and beverage services 218 100 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 accommodation services (6.0% or 2 200 persons), real estate (3.5% or 5 100 persons), and residential care and social work services (1.7% or 1 300 persons). On the other hand, the number of persons engaged decreased mainly in the industries of wholesale (-1.9% or -800 persons), manufacturing (-1.8% or -1 400 persons), import and export trade (-1.4% or -4 700 persons), and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-1.3% or -2 100 persons). Number of persons engaged for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
     
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 45 380 private sector vacancies in June 2026, 4 920 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 560 from education, 4 450 from residential care and social work services, 4 080 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 3 530 from food and beverage services.

     Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in June 2026 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of real estate (-810 or -23%), education (-740 or -14%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-730 or -15%), and human health services (-620 or -18%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of residential care and social work services (310 or 8%), and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (140 or 4%). 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 (15 330 vacancies), associate professionals (8 910 vacancies), and professionals (7 580 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 March 2026, the seasonally adjusted total number of persons engaged and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.1% and 4.6% respectively in June 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, June 2026"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 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/Friday, September 18, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:30

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