Increases in unemployment recorded in cleaning, entertainment, transportation sectors
Hong Kong's unemployment rate slightly went up to 3.1% in the August to October period, according to the latest data from the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD).
"The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.1% in August - October 2024, though edging up by 0.1 percentage point from July - September 2024," said Labour Secretary Chris Sun in a statement.
The number of unemployed people went up to 120,700 in August to October, up by around 800 from the previous figures in July to September. By sectors, increases in unemployment rates were recorded in the following:
On the other hand, unemployment rates for the retail, as well as the food and beverage service sectors declined slightly, according to the C&SD data.
Source: Census and Statistics Department
Meanwhile, the C&SD also found that the underemployment rate went down to 1.1% in the August to October period, with decreases mainly reported in the construction sector, and warehousing and support activities for the transportation sector.
The labour force and total employment also slightly went down during the period, to 3,827,900 and 3,707,100, respectively.
"The labour market should remain tight in the near term alongside the continued economic growth, though the employment situation may continue to vary across sectors depending on their business performances," Sun said.
