The service sectors' employment share taken together rose from 82.7% in 2000 to 86% last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The June issue of the Monthly Digest of Statistics features composite employment estimates for last year. Among the service sectors, the import and export trade engaged 555,500 people or 16.4% in 2005.

Other community, social and personal services engaged 510,200 people or 15.1%; and wholesale and retail trades, 363,000 people or 10.7%.

Meanwhile, the combined employment share of the manufacturing and construction sectors fell from 16.5% in 2000 to 13.3% in 2005. This reflects the continued structural shift of the economy towards the service sectors during the period.

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