Hong Kong March workforce up 3%

Yet employment drops in the manufacturing and wholesale sectors by 6.1% and 0.3%, respectively.

Total private-sector employment rose 3% in March - or by 74,400 people - over the same period last year, while vacancies increased 24%.

A Census & Statistics Department report on Monday showed employment increases were recorded in the cleaning and similar services (15%); construction sites (9.1%); food and beverage services (6.5%); real estate (6.5%); and, financing and insurance (6.4%) sectors.

However, employment decreased in the manufacturing (-6.1%) and wholesale (-0.3%) sectors.

Of the 57,190 private-sector vacancies, 7,310 were in import-export; 6,750 in the food and beverage services; 6,210 in professional and business services; 6,030 in retail; and, 4,990 in the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services trades.