TNAG-2977-FCO40-1469-Economic-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 34

Employment by sectors

4.4

of

Statistics on employment in the second quarter

1982 indicate a continuation of the relative shift in the

distribution of employment in favour of the tertiary services

sectors. Comparing June 1982 with June 1981, employment in the tertiary services sectors recorded substantial increases,

whereas employment in the manufacturing sector declined by 4%.

4.5

During the three months ending June this year,

employment in

the manufacturing sector, nevertheless, increased by 2% to 903 000. The increase in June was largely

seasonal, and was concentrated mainly in the plastics,

electrical and electronics products industries. At 26 900,

number of vacancies in the manufacturing sector was 39%

less than in March 1982 and 36% less than in June 1981.

the

4.6

Within the tertiary services sectors, the finance,

insurance, real estate and business services sector recorded

the largest increase in employment. At 164 100 in June,

employment in this sector was 4% higher than in March 1982,

and 16% higher than in the same month of 1981. Employment in

restaurants and hotels and in the wholesale and retail

(including import/export) trades also increased fairly

rapidly, by 10% and 9% respectively during the twelve months ending June 1932. Employment in the civil service rose by 12%

during the same period.

4.7

Employment on building and construction (including

civil engineering) sites continued to decline steadily, to

84 300 in June. This was 3% lower than in March this year,

and in the corresponding month of 1981. The decrease was concentrated mainly on building sites (in both the public and

private sectors), where employment dropped by 8% during the

twelve months ending June 1982. Employment on civil

engineering sites showed an increase of 28% during the same

period.

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/ 4.8 The