TNAG-1483-FCO40-2037-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 228

4.5

As regards the demand for labour, the employed population increased by 2.0% during the three months ending June 1986, and by 2.6% during the twelve months ending June

(7) 1986

The indirect indicators of recent developments in

the labour market also suggest that the demand for labour strengthened in the second quarter of 1986. First, the number

(8)

in the of job vacancies reported to the Labour Department second quarter of 1986 increased by 34% over the same quarter

last

Second, year.

the number

on of job seekers

the Live (9) Register kept by the Local Employment Service. at the end

of June 1986 was 11% less than a year ago (10). However, the

number of retrenched workers reported to the Labour Department in the second quarter of 1986, at 2 054, increased by

by 6%

compared with the same quarter last year, largely due to the closure of a big department store.

Employment by sectors

4.6

Reflecting the weak domestic

than in March 1985.

export performance

employment in the

during most of 1985 and early 1986,

manufacturing sector in March 1986, at 841 500, was 3% less

However, when compared with the

year-on-year decrease of 6% in December trend in manufacturing employment which started in March 1985 appears to have slowed down. During the three months ending

1985,

the declining

/March

(7)

See footnote (6) above.

(8)

(9)

(10)

This figure excludes those registered with the Higher Education Employment Service and those relating to Model I pay scale jobs with

the Government.

This figure also excludes those registered with the Higher Education Employment Service and those seeking Model I pay scale jobs with the Government. However, these registrants are not necessarily

unemployed.

The number of persons on the Live Register of the Local Employment Service was 31 271 at the end of June 1986, representing 1% of the labour force or 39% of the number of persons unemployed.

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