Hong Kong's unemployment rate held still at 3.1%

Underemployment dipped to 1.1%.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in the May-to-July quarter, unchanged from the April-to-June period, the Census & Statistics Department said. The underemployment rate decreased from 1.2% to 1.1%.

Total employment increased by 11,400 to 3,833,500 during the period, and the labour force rose by 14,500 to 3,961,700. There were 128,200 unemployed people and 44,300 underemployed people.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said the labour force remains in full employment. "Both labour force and total employment continued to show appreciable year-on-year growth.

"In the near term, the overall labour market conditions are expected to remain tight alongside a generally positive hiring sentiment.

"Yet, we will stay vigilant and closely monitor the developments in the external environment and their potential impacts on the local labour market in the months ahead."