XN000022-1996-05-20 — Page 4

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Unemployment and underemployment statistics

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the period January to March 1996 was 3.2%, and the underemployment rate was 2%, according to the latest labour force statistics released today (Monday) by the Census and Statistics Department. The provisional seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the period February to April 1996 was marginally higher, at 3.3%, while the provisional underemployment rate continued to edge lower to 1.8%.

Commenting on the latest figures, a government spokesman said labour market conditions remained generally stable. The slight increase in the unemployment rate was concentrated in the wholesale and retail trades and the transport sector. Meanwhile, decreases in unemployment rate were recorded in the manufacturing and construction sectors. As to the underemployment rate, the decrease was concentrated in the construction and transport sectors.

The growth in total labour supply and total employment was 5.5% and 5.1% respectively in the three months ending March 1996 over a year earlier. These were the fastest increases ever recorded since the General Household Survey was first launched in August 1981.

However, such rapid increases on a year-on-year basis could have been affected to a considerable extent by the low base of comparison in the same period last year, when the respective growth rates at that time were still low.

During the period January to March 1996, the number of unemployed persons with previous jobs was estimated at 87,800. Another 6,300 unemployed persons were first-time job-seekers. The number of underemployed persons was estimated at 62,000.

The unemployment and underemployment statistics were obtained from a continuous General Household Survey.

The survey for January to March 1996 covered a quarterly sample of some 17,900 households or 60,400 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.