Employment and vacancies statistics for September 2024

     According to the figures released today (December 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.8% or 21 700 persons in September 2024 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 66 460, representing a decrease of 18% or 14 190 over the preceding year.

Employment statistics

     In September 2024, the selected industries as a whole employed 2 721 500 persons. The import and export trade engaged 355 700 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 311 300 persons, retail trade 237 100 persons, financing and insurance 230 500 persons, and food and beverage services 221 200 persons.

     Movements in the employment in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of wholesale (-6.0% or -3 100 persons), retail trade (-5.9% or -15 000 persons), import and export trade (-5.1% or -19 100 persons), and financing and insurance (-2.3% or -5 300 persons). On the other hand, employment increased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (10.7% or 11 800 persons), residential care and social work services (3.7% or 2 600 persons), and accommodation services (3.7% or 1 300 persons). Employment figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

     Among the 66 460 private sector vacancies in September 2024, 6 690 were from the industry of education, 6 590 from human health services, 6 210 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 5 440 from food and beverage services.

     Vacancies decreased in majority of the selected industries in September 2024 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of education (-2 420 or -27%), human health services (-1 880 or -22%), transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-1 810 or -26%), and retail trade (-1 440 or -25%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of import and export trade (280 or 9%), and real estate (240 or 5%). 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 (23 930 vacancies), associate professionals (11 380 vacancies), and professionals (10 010 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 2024, the seasonally adjusted total employment and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.3% and 9.4% respectively in September 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, September 2024”
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
“Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, September 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).