ENG-2009 — Page 174

122 | Employment

socio-economic development, as well as guards the safety, and protects the health of employees at work.

Labour Market Situation

53.4 per

Hong Kong's labour force comprised 3.68 million people in 2009 cent men and 46.6 per cent women, representing a rise of 0.8 per cent over 2008.

The majority, or 88 per cent, of people employed were in the service sectors: 32.8 per cent in the import/export trades, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services; 25.1 per cent in public administration and social and personal services; 18.2 per cent in financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 11.8 per cent in transportation, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 3.8 per cent worked in the manufacturing sector, of which about one-fifth were in the manufacture of food products and beverages.

Employment Situation

The labour market was weak in the first half of 2009, due to the global economic downturn in the last quarter of 2008, but strengthened slightly in the second half. The overall unemployment rate rose from 3.6 per cent in 2008 to 5.4 per cent in 2009, while the underemployment rate climbed from 1.9 per cent in 2008 to 2.3 per cent in 2009. Total employment fell by about 39 000, from 3 518 800 in 2008 to 3 479 800 in 2009.

Employment Earnings

In 2009, 14.4 per cent of people with jobs were earning less than $5,000 a month, while the percentage of people earning $30,000 and over was 12.6. The median monthly employment earnings was $10,500 in both 2008 and 2009. In 2009, the median monthly employment earnings for higher-skilled workers such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals was $20,000, while those with lower skills was $8,000.

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 0.8 per cent in money terms between December 2008 and December 2009. After discounting changes in consumer prices, the average wage rate dropped by 0.8 per cent in real terms. In December 2009, the average monthly wage rate for supervisory, technical, clerical and miscellaneous non-production workers in the import/export, wholesale and retail trades, was $14,007. Based on the wage indices, the average wage rate for this group increased by 0.7 per cent in money terms, but dropped by 0.9 per cent in real terms, compared with December 2008.