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Commenting further on these figures, the spokesman said unemployment in the distributive trades, restaurants and hotels, and transport sectors showed some increases. Unemployment in the manufacturing sector and in community, social and personal services remained generally stable.
On the other hand, unemployment in the construction sector and in financing and insurance services decreased. As to underemployment, the situation in most of the major sectors remained generally stable, with improvement seen in the construction and transport sectors.
The spokesman also noted that, following the trend since the early part of this year, total employment continued to show a notable increase, by 2.5% in the three months ending September 1995 over a year earlier. But the total labour supply rose even faster, by 4% over the same period.
During the period July to September 1995, the number of unemployed persons with previous jobs was estimated at 94,900. Another 18,600 unemployed persons were first-time job-seekers. The number of underemployed persons was estimated at 77,000.
The unemployment and underemployment statistics were obtained from a continuous General Household Survey. The survey for July to September 1995 covered a quarterly sample of some 16,200 households or 55,600 persons, selected scientifically to represent the land-based civilian non-institutional population in Hong Kong. Data were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the households sampled.
In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organisation.
"Seasonally adjusted" refers to adjustment for seasonal variations in the proportion of first-time job-seekers in the labour force.
Detailed analysis of labour force characteristics is given in the report on the General Household Survey which is published four times a year.
The next report covering the quarter ending September 1995 will be on sale at the Government Publications Centre at ground floor, Low Block, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong, by the end of December 1995.
End/Thursday, November 16, 1995
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