According to the figures released today (December 21) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.1% or 56 300 persons in September 2023 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 80 650, representing an increase of 8% or 5 810 over the preceding year.
Employment statistics
In September 2023, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 743 200 persons. The import and export trade engaged 374 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 311 700 persons, retail trade 252 100 persons, financing and insurance 235 800 persons, and food and beverage services 224 200 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 arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (8.6% or 9 900 persons), residential care and social work services (5.5% or 3 700 persons), accommodation services (5.2% or 1 700 persons), and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (4.8% or 14 100 persons). On the other hand, employment decreased mainly in the industries of wholesale (-4.0% or -2 100 persons), and import and export trade (-1.4% or -5 100 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 80 650 private sector vacancies in September 2023, 9 110 were from the industry of education; 8 470 from human health services; 6 850 from transportation, storage, postal and courier services; 6 570 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services); and 6 220 from food and beverage services.
Vacancies increased in many selected industries in September 2023 over a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (1 920 or 299%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1 490 or 39%), education (1 200 or 15%), and retail trade (900 or 18%). On the other hand, vacancies decreased mainly in the industries of human health services (-910 or -10%), and financing and insurance (-860 or -13%). 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 (28 170 vacancies), professionals (13 450 vacancies), and associate professionals (13 400 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 2023, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by less than 0.05% and decreased by 6.4% respectively in September 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, September 2023"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 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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