TNAG-1483-FCO40-2037-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 225

CHAPTER 4: THE LABOUR SECTOR

General developments

4.1

(1)

The unemployment situation for the labour force as a whole remained stable in the second quarter of 1986 compared

with the preceding quarter. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the second quarter of

of this year, at

3.0%, was slightly lower than the rate of 3.2% recorded in the

previous quarter, but the decrease was statistically not

significant. In the second quarter of last year the rate was

(3) 2.9% (2)

underemployment rate

the second

The

•

in

/quarter

(1) The main criteria for a person to be classified as unemployed are:

(a)

(b)

not having a job and did not perform any work for pay or profit during the reference week;

available for work during the reference week; and

(c) seeking work during the 30 days before enumeration

For details, see First Quarter Economic Report 1986, p. 25, footnote

(1).

(2) The unemployment rate and the number of persons unemployed :

(3)

Quarter ending

1985

Mar

Jun

Sep

Dec

1986

Mar

Jun

Unemployment

rate*

(8%)

3.1

2.9

3.3

3.1

3.2

3.0

Number of persons unemployed*

('000)

81.1

75.1

86.9

83.3

85.0

80.6

(*) seasonally adjusted

The underemployed population consists of those employed persons who involuntarily worked less than 35 hours during the reference week, and who were seeking more work, or were not seeking more work but were available for additional work. Working short hours is involuntary if it is due to economic reasons which include slack work, material shortage, mechanical breakdown and inability to find full-time work. For details, see First Quarter Economic Report 1986, p.25, footnote

(1).

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