HK joblessness holds steady after year-long decline
Official data released on Monday showed that the jobless rate in the city remained at three percent, halting a year-long consecutive decline recorded last month. In the preceding period, officials said the jobless rate fell to three percent, marking a 12-month consecutive decline and reaching a new three-and-a-half-year low. The latest government data also showed that the underemployment rate for the three months up to May remained the same as that of the previous period, standing at 1.2 percent. The unemployment rate for the retail, accommodation, and food services sectors combined was unchanged at 4.2 percent. However, the rate in the accommodation services sector declined by 0.4 percent to 3.5 percent. Sectors such as construction, wholesale, and social work activities also experienced a drop in jobless rates. Labour Secretary Chris Sun said the number of jobless people fell by a further 1,300, and the job market will continue to improve as the economy recovers. "Both the labour force and total employment recorded accelerated increases of 16,700 and 17,900 to 3,787,000 and 3,673,800 respectively," Sun said.