Law Chi Kwong expects the upcoming labour market to remain stable

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The Census and Statistics Department unveiled yesterday (18 July) that both Hong Kong's unemployment rate and underemployment rate have remained stagnant between April and June, same as the first quarter of 2019.

The unemployment rate stood at 2.8%, while the underemployment rate stalled at 1.0%. There were some movements in the unemployment rate for some industries, such as a decrease in the foundation and superstructure works of the construction sector and an increase in the accommodation services sector. The underemployment rates also moved slightly among some industry sectors, but they were considered as generally small.

Total employment increased by around 1600 from 3,869,100 in March to May to 3,870,700 in April to June. Over the same period, the labour force also increased by around 1700.

The number of unemployed people (not seasonally adjusted) in April to June 2019 was 114 300, about the same as that in the previous quarter. The number of underemployed individuals increased by around 2000.

"The labour market is expected to remain largely stable in the near term. The government will stay vigilant to how a softer economic environment and other unfavourable factors will affect the local labour market going forward, " said Dr Law Chi-kwong, the secretary for labour and welfare.

Law noted that the Labour Department has adopted a series of on-going measures to promote the employment of the elderly, including setting up special counters at job centres to provide priority registration and job referral services for elderly job-seekers, organising tailor-made employment briefings for the elderly, setting up a dedicated webpage for elderly job-seekers on the Interactive Employment Service website and enhancing the functions of the vacancy search terminals to facilitate their access to employment information and search for suitable vacancies.