The unemployment rate in Hong Kong slightly decreased in July – September 2009.
According to the latest labour force statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 5.4% in June – August to 5.3% in July – September 2009. Decreases were mainly in construction, information and communications, and arts, entertainment and recreation.
The underemployment rate has remained unchanged at 2.4%, and decreases were mainly in decoration and maintenance, and insurance, offsetting increases in postal and courier services, and cleaning and similar services.
Comparing the two periods, the labour force decreased by 7,400 to 3,704,700, and the number of unemployed persons decreased by 7,700 to 209,100.
The unemployment rate has dropped the first time since the outbreak of the global financial tsunami in August 2008. The secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung commented, "As business conditions gradually improve and the labour market stabilises, employers may adopt a more positive attitude towards recruitment. This is expected to ease the pressure on the unemployment rate in the near term."