According to the figures released today (June 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.5% or 39 300 persons in March 2023 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 77 750, representing an increase of 45% or 24 050 over the preceding year.
Employment statistics
In March 2023, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 719 800 persons. The import and export trade engaged 378 100 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 306 100 persons, retail trade 248 500 persons, financing and insurance 233 000 persons, and food and beverage services 223 900 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) (10.3% or 10 100 persons), food and beverage services (9.4% or 19 200 persons), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (7.1% or 7 900 persons), and education (3.8% or 7 700 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of cleaning and similar services (-2.0% or -1 700 persons), and import and export trade (-1.9% or -7 500 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 77 750 private sector vacancies in March 2023, 7 990 were from the industry of education; 7 440 from transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 6 800 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 610 from human health services; and 6 410 from retail trade.
Vacancies increased in all the selected industries in March 2023 over a year earlier. Increases were more notable in the industries of transportation, storage, postal and courier services (3 890 or 110%), food and beverage services (3 400 or 141%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2 710 or 99%), retail trade (2 700 or 73%), and education (2 010 or 34%). 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 (29 500 vacancies), professionals (13 320 vacancies), and associate professionals (12 590 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 December 2022, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 1.0% and 7.6% respectively in March 2023. 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, March 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2023"
(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 and Central Register of Establishments Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).
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