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 0.3% or 9 100 persons in March 2024 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 75 180, representing a decrease of 3% or 2 570 over the preceding year.
Employment statistics
In March 2024, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 728 900 persons. The import and export trade engaged 359 600 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 313 000 persons, retail trade 241 900 persons, financing and insurance 229 400 persons, and food and beverage services 225 200 persons.
Employment increased in many surveyed industries when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (14.1% or 15 200 persons), residential care and social work services (4.5% or 3 100 persons), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (3.6% or 4 400 persons), and human health services (2.4% or 3 700 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of wholesale (-6.4% or -3 300 persons), and import and export trade (-4.9% or -18 500 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 75 180 private sector vacancies in March 2024, 8 820 were from the industry of transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 7 320 from education; 6 720 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); 6 380 from human health services; and 5 930 from food and beverage services.
Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in March 2024 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of retail trade (-1 690 or -26%), financing and insurance (-1 360 or -22%), accommodation services (-730 or -26%), and education (-670 or -8%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (1 430 or 221%), and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (1 380 or 19%). 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 (28 040 vacancies), professionals (13 130 vacancies), and associate professionals (10 770 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 December 2023, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.5% and 2.4% respectively in March 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, March 2024"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 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).
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