Hong Kong’s jobless rate held steady for the seventh successive month in February, figures from the Census and Statistics Department showed Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in the three months to February, unchanged from the three months to January. A year ago, the figure was the same.

The jobless rate has been at the current level since July 2015.

The number of unemployed was 120,700 in February, which was higher than the 119,800 persons in the previous month. In the same period last year, the figure was 121,800.

Compared to the previous period, employment grew by about 4,400 persons to 3.81 million and labor force expanded by around 5,300 persons to 3.93 million.

“Although the labor market has remained broadly stable in overall terms thus far, the near-term employment outlook is overshadowed by a slow-growing global economy and slackening inbound tourism,” Labor and Welfare Secretary Matthew Cheung said.

“With private sector corporations normally reviewing their annual staffing position after the Lunar New Year, we will stay vigilant and monitor the labor market situation closely.”

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