TNAG-1483-FCO40-2037-Economic-situation-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 58

4.5

As regards the

demand for labour, the employed population increased by 0.6% during the three months ending September 1986, and by 3.9% during the twelve months ending September 1986

Other indicators of recent developments

(7).

in the labour market also suggest an increase in the demand

for labour in the third quarter. First, the number of job

(8)

(9)

in the third

at the end

vacancies reported to the Labour Department quarter of this year was 47% more than in the same quarter last year. Second, the number of job seekers on the Live Register kept by the Local Employment Service of September 1986 was 19% fewer than а year

ago (10) Third, the number of retrenched workers reported to the

Labour Department in the third quarter of 1986 also decreased, by 48% compared with the same quarter last year.

Employment by sectors

4.6

Following the recovery in domestic exports, more job opportunities were created in the manufacturing sector. In June 1986 employment in manufacturing, at 886 100, was 1% higher than in June 1985, while the number of vacancies was 19% more. Compared with March 1986, and bearing in mind that this comparison is subject

seasonal influences,

manufacturing employment in June 1986 increased by 5% while

to

/the

•

(7) See footnote (6) above.

(8)

This figure excludes

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

(9)

Same remark as

(10)

footnote (8). However, the registrants are not necessarily unemployed.

The number of persons on the Live Register of the Local Employment Service was 21 682 at the end of September 1986, representing 0.8% of the labour force.

36