Total employment also up during last quarter
Hong Kong's unemployment rate remained at its lower level in four years after the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) unveiled on Thursday that it stayed at 2.8% in the July-September period.
"The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 2.8% in July - September 2023, same as the level in June - August 2023," said Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun in a statement. "The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at one per cent."
According to the C&SD, movements in the unemployment and underemployment rate varied across sectors during both periods. However, the magnitudes were generally not large.
The number of unemployed individuals went up by around 1,900 to 114,000 in the July-September 2023, according to the department.
The number of underemployed people, on the other hand, decreased by around 1,000 to 37,900.
The latest data shows that Hong Kong's unemployment rate retained its four-year low in the past three months.
It previously dipped to 2.8% in the May-July period, following reported declines in the consumption- and tourism-related sectors.
There were also reported declines in unemployment rates for the transportation sector, the information and communications sector, and the real estate sector.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong's total employment and labour force figures went up in the July-September period, according to the C&SD.
Total employment went up by 5,800 to 3,720,300 during the period, while the labour force increased by 7,700 to 3,834,300.
"The continued growth of consumption- and tourism-related activities would continue to support the labour market," Sun said.
On average, there are over 101,000 vacancies from the private sector during the July-September period.
According to the Labour Department, it will set up a large-scale job fair in Sham Shui Po in November, which will see over 40 participating employers.
Hong Kong also recently unveiled a new labour importation scheme that aims to bring in 20,000 foreign workers for the construction and transportation sector.
