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Employment
In the midst of Hong Kong's continuing buoyant economy, a shortage of workers was felt in some sectors during the year.
The increased economic activity resulted in a further decline in the unemployment rate, and in higher wages, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
The average wage rates for all employees (including workers or wage earners and salaried employees up to supervisory level) increased in money terms by 10.2 per cent between September 1987 and September 1988 while those for workers (or wage earners) increased by eight per cent over the same period. After allowing for rises in consumer prices, wage rates for all employees increased in real terms by 1.4 per cent and those for workers decreased by 0.6 per cent. The overall average daily wage rate for workers in September 1988 was $142, being $170 for males and $126 for females. While the increase of wages rates in real terms was small, the increase of average earnings was more significant. For example, between September 1987 and September 1988, average earnings for employees in the manufacturing sector, in terms of payroll per person engaged, rose by 13.8 per cent in money terms, or by 4.6 per cent in real terms.
Unemployment for the third quarter of 1988 was at a low of 1.6 per cent, and underemployment was 0.6 per cent.
Hong Kong's resourceful and energetic workforce of 2.8 million comprises 64 per cent males and 36 per cent females. These figures are based on the results of the July- September 1988 General Household Survey. The workers are mainly engaged in: manufac- turing, 31.9 per cent; wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, 24.3 per cent; community, social and personal services, 17.4 per cent; transport, storage and communi- cations, 9.1 per cent; construction, 8.5 per cent; and financing, insurance, real estate and business services, 7 per cent.
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According to a Survey of Employment, Vacancies and Payroll in the manufacturing sector conducted in September, 844 575 people were engaged in 50 606 establishments. The survey covered working proprietors and partners, employees receiving pay and unpaid family workers affiliated to business organisations, but excluded out-workers. Some 364 655 people the largest portion of the manufacturing workforce were engaged in the textile and wearing apparel industries. The electronics and plastics industries were the next two largest employers. Details of the distribution of manu- facturing establishments, and of the number of people engaged in them, are given at Appendices 17 and 18.
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The bulk of the manufacturing workforce is concentrated in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and satellite towns in the New Territories. Industrial development in the New Territories is increasing and 36 per cent of the manufacturing workforce now work there.