Employment down 0.3% in Dec 2024

Over 2.71 million people were employed across key industries in Hong Kong.

Total employed individuals in Hong Kong’s private sector declined by 0.3% year-on-year (YoY) or 7,000 persons in December 2024, according to the Census & Statistics Department (C&SD).

Total number of vacancies was 58,410, 20% YoY lower than the previous year, based on data released on 21 March 2025.

In total, over 2.71 million individuals were employed across select industries in the city. The import and export trade hired 354,500 people, followed by 311,500 people in the professional and business services, excluding cleaning and similar services.

The financing and insurance industry employed 233,300 people; retail trade, 232,700 people; and the food and beverage (F&B) services industry had 220,900 person employed.

The wholesale (-5.4%), retail trade (-5.3%), import and export trade (-2.2%), and F&B services (-1.6%) all recorded declines in employment during the month.

Employment increased in the real estate (4.6%), human health services (3.5%), and residential care and social work services (3.1%) industries.

Meanwhile, there were 58,410 vacancies in the private sector, of which over 5,000 each are from education, professional and business services, and F&B services. Over 4,900 vacancies are also recorded in the residential care and social work services industry, as well as the financing and insurance industry.