XN000022-1993-04-16 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1993

EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER

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CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT FIGURES SHOWED CONTINUED GROWTH IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

MEANWHILE, EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECLINED

FURTHER.

THE FALL IN MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT MAINLY REFLECTED THE CONTINUING STRUCTURAL CHANGE IN THE ECONOMY, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RELOCATION OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES TO CHINA.

VACANCIES IN MOST OF THE SERVICE SECTORS RECORDED INCREASES OF VARIOUS MAGNITUDES IN DECEMBER 1992 OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

ON THE OTHER HAND, VACANCIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND ON CONSTRUCTION SITES FELL FURTHER.

IN THE MONTH, EARNINGS IN ALL MAJOR SECTORS CONTINUED TO SHOW FURTHER INCREASES IN MONEY TERMS OVER A YEAR EARLIER.

IN

AFTER ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION, THERE WAS STILL AN INCREASE REAL TERMS FOR AVERAGE EARNINGS IN THESE SECTORS. THE REAL INCREASE WAS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.

SECTOR

THERE WERE 565,100 PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING IN DECEMBER 1992, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF 10.2% FROM DECEMBER 1991.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AT 914,800 IN DECEMBER 1992, WAS HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1991.

4.9%

EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, AT 314,500, WAS UP BY 6.3%.

EMPLOYMENT ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, AT 59,500, WAS 0.3% HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1991.

FOR

THE EMPLOYMENT FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1992 IN SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS, WITH COMPARISONS WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES DECEMBER 1991 AND SEPTEMBER 1992, ARE:

/PERSONS ENGAGED