Jobless rate unchanged at 2.8% in Q2

About 1,600 workers joined the labour force.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Q2 was at 2.8%, unchanged from the Q1 figures, according to a report by the Census and Statistics Department. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged in the two periods at 1%.

In total, employment increased by around 1,600 from more than 3.869 million in Q1 to 3.87 million in Q2. During the same period, the labour force also reportedly increased by around 1,700, from 3.983 million to 3.985 million.

Movements in the unemployment rate in the different industry sectors varied in Q1 and Q2. The reported noted a decrease in the foundation and superstructure works of the construction sector and a notable increase in the accommodations sector.

Dr. Law Chi-kwong, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, commented, “The unemployment situation was broadly steady in most economic sectors. However, the unemployment rate in foundation and superstructure works of the construction sector has been generally rising over the past year notwithstanding the decrease in the latest three-month period, conceivably due to the completion of some major infrastructure projects. The unemployment rate in the import and export trade sector also increased visibly over a year earlier amid weaker trade flows."

According to the news release, the secretary noted that the Labour Department (LD) has adopted a series of ongoing measures to promote the employment of elderly persons, including setting up special counters at job centres to provide priority registration and job referral services for elderly job-seekers, organising tailor-made employment briefings for the elderly, setting up a dedicated webpage for elderly job-seekers on the Interactive Employment Service website and enhancing the functions of the vacancy search terminals to facilitate their access to employment information and search for suitable vacancies.

The LD also said that it will organise the Sha Tin Job Fair on 23 and 24 July at Sha Tin Town Hall, and more than 50 employers will reportedly participate. The LD also announced that it will organise the Kowloon West Job Fair on 15 and 16 August at the Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po.