Jobless rate flat at 2.8% in October-December

This translates to 105,400 unemployed Hong Kongers.

Hong Kong’s employment market remained tight up until the last three months of 2018 as the jobless rate stayed flat at 2.8% in October-December, according to the Census & Statistics department. 

The headline figure translates to 105,400 unemployed persons in October-December.

“When compared with a year earlier, the unemployment situation in most of the major service sectors improved, notably in the retail, and accommodation and food services sectors, thanks in part to the continued expansion in inbound tourism,” secretary for labour and welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said in a statement.

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On the other hand, the underemployment rate fell from 1.2% in September-November to 1.1% in October-December to 44,500 persons amidst improvements in the decoration, repair and maintenance for the buildings sector.

Total employment increased by around 5,400 to 3.87 million in October - December whilst the labour force remained flat at 3.98 million.