XN000022-1997-04-11 — Page 14

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The above statistics for December 1996 were derived from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies, the Supplementary Survey of Job Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the Department. In the former two surveys, some economic activities (e.g. those where self-employment is predominant, such as taxi operators, hawkers and freelance authors) are not covered and hence the respective employment and vacancy figures relate only to those selected industries included in the surveys. In the latter survey on construction sites, employment and vacancy figures relate to manual workers only.

Detailed breakdowns of the above statistics are available from the Quarterly Report of Employment, Vacancies and Payroll Statistics, December 1996 and the Quarterly Report of Employment and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 1996. They will be available at HK$48 per copy and HK$19 per copy (both exclusive of postage) respectively at the Government Publications Centre, Queensway Government Offices, Low Block, Ground Floor, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong and at the Publications Unit of the Census and Statistics Department on the 19th Floor, Wanchai Tower. 12 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Table 1: Employment figures and percentage changes by selected major sector

Persons engaged (employment)

Percentage change

Selected major

Dec95

Sep96

Dec96

Dep96

Dec96

sector

over

over

Dec95

Sep96

Manufacturing

375800

327500

325100

-13.5

-0.7

Construction

68500

76600

81700

+19.2

+6.7

sites (manual

workers only)

Wholesale.

1018200

1046600 1056100 +3.7

+0.9

retail and

import/export

trades,

restaurants and hotels