Unemployment rate in November rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2%

Social News

Written by: Huang Yongyu

2019-12-17 16:40

Opposition to amending the "Fugitive Offenders" demonstrations for more than half a year. The Census and Statistics Department today (17th) released the latest labour force statistics. From September to November, the unemployment rate in Hong Kong was 3.2%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from 3.1% in August to October. The underemployment rate remained unchanged during the two periods, remaining at 1.2%. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Law Chi-kwong, said that the unemployment rate in the food service industry had risen to 6.2%, the highest level in more than eight years.

Statistics from the Census and Statistics Department show that the unemployment rate in Hong Kong during the period from September to November was 3.2%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the figure in August to October, while the underemployment rate remained at 1.2%. The number of unemployed remained at 125,400, while the number of underemployed rose from 45,900 to 46,900, an increase of about 1,000. Compared with the past period, the increase in unemployment and underemployment between September and November was mainly seen in the retail industry.

Unemployment in the food service activities industry rose to 6.2%, an eight-year high. (Profile picture)

Luo Zhiguang said that the economic situation continued to deteriorate, which further slowed the labor market. The unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.2%, while the underemployment rate remained at 1.2%. The year-on-year decline in total employment has further expanded. He said that due to the severe impact of local social events, the unemployment rate in the consumer and tourism-related industries, that is, the retail, accommodation and catering services industries, rose further to 5.2%, the highest level in three years. Among them, the unemployment rate in the food service industry has risen to 6.2%, the highest level in more than eight years. Unemployment rates in other industries have also increased.

Luo Zhiguang said that the government would closely monitor the development of the labor market. (Profile picture)

He said that the Labour Department would help young people to enter the job market by optimizing the "Wing Spread Youth Plan". Optimization measures include increasing the number of "employment and start-up" places and grants to participating non-governmental organizations; increasing the amount of work internship training allowances given to trainees; actively searching for on-the-job training vacancies, and cooperating with employers to organize themed recruitment days .

For large-scale job fairs, the Labour Department will hold the “North District Recruitment and Training Expo 2020” at Baorong Road Stadium, Sheung Shui on January 3, 2020. At that time, more than 60 employers will participate, providing a large number of job vacancies from different industries. .

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