Total employment in the surveyed private sector dropped to 2.44 million people in June, down 1.5% on the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department says. Vacancies fell 39% to 31,530.

The import and export trade engaged 491,000 people, followed by the retail with 232,600, professional and business services 230,700, and food and beverage services 207,300.

Employment increases were recorded in human health services (up 4.9%), education (4.5%), cleaning and similar services (2.7%), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (1.2%) and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (0.5%).

Employment drops were seen in manufacturing (-6.2%), import and export trade (-5.7%) and information and communications (-3.3%). 

Of the 31,530 private sector vacancies, 4,210 were from the food and beverage services, 3,700 from the import and export trade, 3,660 from the retail trade, 2,960 from the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services and 2,820 from the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services).