Job hunting: A job fair will be held August 31 at Tuen Mun Town Plaza, offering 2,000 vacancies from 30 employers.

About 6,300 people secured jobs in the May-July quarter bringing total employment to an all-time high of 3.371 million, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The total labour force grew by 17,800 to 3.587 million. However, the number of jobless also rose by 11,500, to 216,000. The number of underemployed people, at 100,000, was little changed.

The department said today the seasonally adjusted jobless and underemployment rates stood at 5.7% and 2.8% for the May-July quarter, same as April-June.

More decoration, hotel, transport jobs

Falls in the jobless rate were mainly seen in the decoration and maintenance, hotels and transport sectors, while increases were more apparent in the manufacturing, wholesale trade, amusement and recreational services, and welfare and community services sectors.

Falls in the underemployment rate were mainly seen in the decoration and maintenance, retail trade and sanitary services sectors, offsetting the increases seen in the restaurants, amusement and recreational services, and miscellaneous personal services sectors.

The department said the total labour force showed a relatively faster growth upon the increased entry of fresh graduates and school leavers into the labour market. This led to a renewed rise in the number of unemployed people, reversing the downtrend seen in the preceding months.

Yet after discounting the seasonal factor, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.7%, the lowest level recorded since August-October 2001.

Favourable outlook

The department said Hong Kong's economic outlook is generally favourable, with both the external and domestic sectors performing well.

The near-term outlook for unemployment will depend on the overall economic performance and job creation in the corporate sector, relative to labour force growth.

Hong Kong Disneyland, which opens September 12, has created 18,000 jobs - both directly or through support services like hotels and retail outlets.

In the coming year, the Tung Chung Cable Car System, Hong Kong Wetland Park and 23 hotel projects will be completed, creating more jobs. Moreover, the tourism industry's robust performance will have a positive effect on employment.

Tuen Mun job fair to offer 2,000 posts

The Labour Department has fused the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and the Youth Work Experience Training Scheme into a "through-train" programme.

It will provide pre-employment training, on-the-job training and placement services. There are 20,000 places under the joint programme, and enrolment is underway.

Job fairs will be staged in areas with higher unemployment and remote districts. A major district-based job fair will be held on August 31 at Tuen Mun Town Plaza, offering 2,000 vacancies from 30 employers.