Employment and vacancies statistics for June 2020

     According to the figures released today (September 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 5.1% or 144 700 persons in June 2020 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 39 120, representing a decrease of 47% or 34 340 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In June 2020, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 719 000 persons. The import and export trade engaged 397 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 305 900 persons, retail trade 249 400 persons, financing and insurance 238 700 persons, and food and beverage services 212 800 persons.
 
     Employment decreased in majority of the surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Decreases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of food and beverage services (-15.4% or -38 800 persons), accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (-14.4% or -6 100 persons), import and export trade (-12.3% or -55 700 persons), wholesale (-10.0% or -5 900 persons), and retail trade (-8.1% or -21 800 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industry of human health services (4.6% or 6 200 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 39 120 private sector vacancies, 4 620 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 150 from education, 4 030 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 4 020 from residential care and social work services.
 
     Vacancies decreased in all the selected industries in June 2020 over a year earlier. Decreases were more notable in the industries of food and beverage services (-7 010 or -77%); retail trade (-4 490 or -59%); professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-4 110 or -50%); and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-3 110 or -69%). 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 (9 500 vacancies), service and sales workers (8 300 vacancies), and elementary occupations (6 770 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 2020, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 1.4% and 7.4% respectively in June 2020. 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 2020"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 2020"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050004)
 
     Users can download these publications free of charge 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, C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076; fax: 2827 2296; email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).