The seasonally adjusted jobless rate nudged up from 4.1% in May-July to 4.2% in June-August 2007, while the underemployment rate held stable at 2.3%, the Census & Statistics Department says.

Comparing June-August with May-July, increases in the jobless rate were mainly seen in the communications, real estate and wholesale trade sectors. Decreases in the underemployment rate were mainly seen in the foundation and superstructure construction, and communications sectors, offsetting the increases in welfare and community services, and retail trade sectors.

Total employment grew by about 10,100 - from 3,494,200 in May-July to an all-time high of 3,504,300 in June-August. Over the same period, the labour force swelled by about 18, 500 - from 3,652,200 to a new high of 3,670,700.

The number of unemployed, not seasonally adjusted, was up by about 8,500 - from 157, 900 in May-July to 166,400 in June-August. The number of underemployed increased by around 300 - from 83,500 to 83,800.

In lockstep with sustained economic growth, total employment hit another record high of over 3.5 million in June-August. Because of the increased number of fresh graduates and school leavers, the total labour force grew at a faster pace, leading to an increase in the number of jobless people.

After discounting the seasonal factor, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% in June-August. The near-term outlook will continue to hinge on the growth in total employment relative to that in the labour supply.

Private sector posts 58k vacancies

In August, the Labour Department netted 58,564 vacancies from the private sector, an increase of 18.4% over the same period last year. On average, the department received 2,500-plus vacancies each working day.

The job tatistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey, which covered a sample of 24,000 households with 74,000 people in June-August.

Detailed analysis of labour-force characteristics is given in the Quarterly Report on General Household Survey which is published four times a year. The current issue of the report covering the quarter April-June is now available; the next issue covering July-September will be available by the end of November. Users can download the quarterly reports for free from here.

Where to buy

A print version of the current issue of this publication is available for sale for $56. Buy it in person from the Census & Statistics Department's Publications Unit, on 19/F Wanchai Tower, 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, telephone: 2582 3025, or order it through the mail by returning a completed order form which can be downloaded from the department's website. 

Print versions are also available for sale online at the Statistical Bookstore (www.statisticalbookstore.gov.hk) and the Government Bookstore (www.bookstore.gov.hk), at a 15% discount.

If you have questions about labour-force statistics for May-July 2007, call 2887 5508, send a fax to 2508 1501, or an e-mail to ghs@censtatd.gov.hk.