Employment and vacancies statistics for September 2018

     According to the figures released today (December 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 1.0% or 27 900 persons in September 2018 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 78 340, representing an increase of 10% or 7 190 over the preceding year.
 
Employment statistics

     In September 2018, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 871 700 persons. The import and export trade engaged 476 000 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 303 100 persons, the retail trade 273 100 persons, and the food and beverage services 251 600 persons.

     Employment increased in many surveyed industries compared with a year earlier. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the industries of accommodation services (covering hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses and other establishments providing short term accommodation) (5.8% or 2 200 persons), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (3.5% or 10 300 persons), human health services (3.2% or 4 000 persons), food and beverage services (3.1% or 7 500 persons), and financing and insurance (2.8% or 6 200 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-11.4% or -13 900 persons) and manufacturing (-2.8% or -2 600 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
 
Vacancies statistics

     Among the 78 340 private sector vacancies, 12 060 were from the industry of food and beverage services, 8 120 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), 8 010 from retail trade, 6 230 from import and export trade, and 6 030 from financing and insurance.

     Vacancies increased in majority of the selected industries in September 2018 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (1 380 or 21%); food and beverage services (1 280 or 12%); education (970 or 25%); and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (880 or 24%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-310 or -38%) and retail trade (-120 or -1%). 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 (22 980 vacancies), elementary occupations (15 520 vacancies), associate professionals (15 350 vacancies), and clerical support workers (9 390 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 June 2018, both the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.1% in September 2018. 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, September 2018"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp452.jsp?productCode=B1050003)

"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 2018"
(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).