Unemployment rate down 4.3% in May to July

Number of jobless persons declined by 10,400.

The Hong Kong government announced that the unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in May to July 2022, on a seasonally-adjusted basis.

Figures from the Census and Statistics Department showed that the number of jobless persons (not seasonally adjusted) fell by 10,400 from 178,600 in April - June 2022 to 168,200 in May - July 2022. 

Joblessness rate also decreased across all sectors, especially in decoration, repair, and maintenance for buildings sector, retail, accommodation and food services, transportation sector, and arts and recreation sector.

Underemployment rate also went down from 3.0% in April - June 2022 to 2.2% in May - July 2022.Total number of underemployed residents decreased by 27,300 from 111,600 to 84,300.

Total employment went up by around 21,500 from 3,571,600 in April - June 2022 to 3,593,100 in May - July 2022. In the same period, the labour force also soared by 11,100 from 3,750,200 to 3,761,300.

Reacting to these figures, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun, said the labour market improved following the recovery of domestic economic activities and government employment schemes.

Sun added that the labour market will continue to be uplifted if the local epidemic situation continues to be mitigated, support from voucher schemes continues, and domestic economic activities will revive.

“The labour market should continue to improve, although the extent of improvement will be dependent on the pace of economic revival amid the tightened financial conditions. It remains vital for the community to work in unison with the Government to keep the epidemic under control,” said Sun.