Hong Kong unemployment rate drops to a one-year low: Q2 2021 data

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Hong Kong's joblessness rate further decreased from 6% in March-May 2021 to 5.5% in April-June 2021.

As the local epidemic situation remains steady and the economy continues to recover, Hong Kong's joblessness rate further dropped to a one-year low of 5.5%.

The unemployment rate decreased, for the fourth time in a row, by 0.5% in April-June 2021 as compared with the preceding three-month period, according to the latest data released yesterday (20 July) by the HKSAR Census and Statistics Department.

Total employment increased by around 9,700 in April-June 2021, while the number of unemployed persons went down by 20,200.

The unemployment rate decreased across almost all the major economic sectors. The consumption- and tourism-related sectors (i.e. retail, accommodation and food services sectors), in particular, observed a combined drop by 0.9% to 8.5%. Among these sectors, the unemployment rate of those in food and beverage service activities fell by 1.3% to 10%.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rates in the construction sector, the import/export trade and wholesale sector, and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector also declined notably.

The underemployment rate also decreased from 2.8% in March-May 2021 to 2.5% in April-June 2021, and the number of underemployed persons dropped by around 11,400.

In April-June 2021, the Labour Department recorded a monthly average of 82,377 vacancies from the private sector, representing an increase of 0.6% over the average figure in March-May 2021 and a year-on-year increase of 50.6%.

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong said the labour market should improve further with the continued economic recovery and the help of the Consumption Voucher Scheme.

“To create a solid foundation for a full-fledged revival of economic activities and hence a continued recovery of the labour market, it is essential for the community to actively participate in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely," he added.

The survey for April-June 2021 covered a sample of some 26,000 households or 72,000 persons.

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