Hong Kong’s unemployment rate held steady for the eighth successive month in March, figures from the Census and Statistics Department revealed Thursday.
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 3.3 percent in the January to March period, unchanged from the December to February period. That was in line with economists’ expectations.
The unemployment rate has held at 3.3 percent since the May to July period of last year.
Citing unadjusted data, the agency said joblessness rose mainly in the construction and retail sectors, while it decreased in the real estate, and information and communications sectors.
The number of unemployed rose by around 5,500 persons sequentially to 127,300 in the three months to March.
Employment also declined by about 6,400 persons to 3.801 million in the January to March period. The labor force was largely unchanged at 3.928 million.
“The near-term employment outlook will continue to hinge on the overall economic situation and business sentiment,” Labor and Welfare Secretary Matthew Cheung said.
“In view of the recent moderation in visitor spending, we need to observe carefully its potential impact on the employment situation of relevant sectors. We will stay vigilant and closely monitor development in the labor market, particularly the employment situation of the lower-skilled segment.”
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com