Stable situation: Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung says the jobless rate was 4.9% in the November-January period while the underemployment rate dropped to 2.2%.

The jobless rate was 4.9% in the November-January period, unchanged on the October-December quarter. The underemployment rate dropped from 2.3% to 2.2%.

The Census & Statistics Department today said total employment increased by 8,600 to 3,505,700 while the labour force grew by 2,100 to 3,672,000.

The number of unemployed people decreased by 6,400 to 166,400 while the number of underemployed people fell by 3,900 to 80,600.