The Census & Statistics Department today announced total employment in the private sector surveyed increased by 2.1%, or 49,900 people, in June compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 51,590, representing an increase of 12%, or 5,730, over last year.

In June, the selected sectors as a whole employed 2,480,800 people. The import and export trade engaged 521,300 people, followed by the retail trade engaging 239,800, the business-services sector 237,600, and restaurants 207,500.    

June saw employment increase in most of the surveyed sectors compared with a year earlier. Increases were recorded in the financing and insurance sector (7.2%, or 12,400 jobs), the medical, health and related services sector (4.6%, or 3,800), business-services sector (4.5%, or 10,200), education services and research institutes (3.5%, or 5,100) and recreational and other personal-services sector (3.5%, or 4,100).

Employment fell in the wholesale trade (-3.7%, a fall of 2,500 jobs), the manufacturing sector (-3.2%, or 5,100) and at construction sites (-3%, or 1,500).

Among the 51,590 private-sector vacancies, 8,100 were from the import and export trade, 6,120 from the business-services sector, 5,390 from the retail trade, 4,820 from the financing and insurance sector, and 4,670 from restaurants.

Recreational, personal-services sectors see rise

Vacancy increases in June over a year earlier were mainly from the recreational and other personal-services sector (1,330, or 41%), the retail trade (1,170, or 28%), the medical, health and related services sector (980, or 61%), restaurants (870, or 23%) and the business-services sector (630, or 12%).

Vacancy declines were seen in the financing and insurance sector (-390, or 7%), the wholesale trade (-170, or 16%) and the transport and storage sector (-160, or 8%). 

By occupation category, private-sector vacancies were observed mainly for associate professionals (15,960 reported), service workers and shop sales workers (10,560) and clerks (9,430).

Compared with the previous quarter, the seasonally adjusted total employment in the surveyed sectors rose 0.4% in June, while total vacancies fell 0.5%.

Click here for details of the survey.