ENG-2007 — Page 179

Employment 131

The Government is committed to promoting good employer-employee relations, protecting the rights and enhancing the benefits of employees in line with Hong Kong's socio-economic development, as well as guarding the safety, and protecting the health, of employees at work.

Labour Market Situation

In 2007, Hong Kong's labour force grew by 1.7 per cent over 2006. The labour force stood at 3.64 million, of which 54 per cent were men and 46 per cent, women.

Of those employed, the majority, 86.6 per cent, were engaged in the service sectors - 34 per cent in wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels; 26.4 per cent in community, social and personal services; 15.7 per cent in financing, insurance, real estate and business services; and 10.5 per cent in transport, storage and communications. Only 4.9 per cent worked in the manufacturing sector. The printing and publishing industry was the largest manufacturing industry, engaging 38 600 people by the end of 2007, followed by the food manufacturing industry, the textiles industries and the wearing apparel industry (excluding footwear), which engaged 22 800, 17 000 and 16 100 people respectively. (Details of the distribution of establishments and people employed by selected major industry groups are given in the Appendices).

Employment Situation

The labour market improved further in 2007, underpinned by a sustained pick- up in economic activities. The unemployment rate decreased from 4.8 per cent in 2006 to 4 per cent in 2007, while the underemployment rate fell from 2.4 per cent in 2006 to 2.2 per cent in 2007. Total employment rose by about 84 800, from 3 410 200 in 2006 to a new high of 3 495 000 in 2007.

Wages

Wage rates are calculated on a time basis, either daily or monthly, or on an incentive basis according to the volume of work performed. The average wage rate for employees up to the supervisory level, including daily-rated and monthly-rated employees, increased by 2.7 per cent in money terms between December 2006 and December 2007. After discounting changes in consumer prices, the average wage rate dropped by 0.7 per cent in real terms. In December 2007, the average monthly wage rate for supervisory, technical, clerical and miscellaneous non-production workers in the wholesale, retail and import and export trades, restaurants and hotels sector was $11,753. Based on the wage indices, the average wage rate for this group increased by 2.5 per cent in money terms, but dropped by 0.9 per cent in real terms, compared with December 2006.

Over the same period, the average wage rate in the manufacturing sector rose by 2 per cent in money terms, but decreased by 1.4 per cent in real terms. The average daily wage in this sector was $359 for craftsmen and operatives.