Unemployment rate flat at 2.8% in July-September

This translates to 117,800 unemployed persons.

The unemployment rate in Hong Kong held steady at 2.8% in July-September which is the same as that in June-August, according to the Census & Statistics department.

The headline figure translates to around 117,800 unemployed persons amidst an improvement in the labour situation across industries.

“On a year-on-year comparison to net out seasonal fluctuations, the unemployment situation improved in many major sectors, especially in the accommodation services, decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings, as well as information and communications sectors," secretary for labour and welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said in a statement.

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This was able to offset softening figures in employment which decreased by around 7 800 to 3 874 600 in July - September 2018. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased by around 7 400 to 3 992 400.

On the other hand, underemployment inched up from 1.1% in June-August to 1.2% in July-September as the number of Hong Kong’s underemployed rose by 1,800 to 47,300.