China News Service, Hong Kong, January 19th. The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 19th that after seasonal adjustment, the unemployment rate in Hong Kong will drop from 3.7% in September to November 2022 to 3.5% in October to December of the same year.
The data released on the same day also showed that Hong Kong's underemployment rate also dropped from 1.6% in September to November 2022 to 1.5% in October to December of the same year.
During the period, the unemployment rate of almost all major economic industries decreased, among which the construction industry, retail industry, transportation industry and education industry had relatively obvious declines.
As for the underemployment rate, decreases were mainly seen in the decoration, repair and maintenance of buildings, catering services, and transportation.
Data show that from October to December 2022, the total number of employed people in Hong Kong will rise to 3.6653 million, while the total labor force will drop to 3.7913 million; the number of unemployed people will drop to 126,000, and the number of underemployed people will drop to 55,300.
Sun Yuhan, director of the Labor and Welfare Bureau of the SAR government, said that Hong Kong's labor market should continue to improve in the short term.
With the SAR government lifting most of the social distancing measures and the gradual "customs clearance" between Hong Kong and the Mainland, Hong Kong's economic activities are expected to recover more significantly, providing further support to the labor market.
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