Business
Jobless numbers remain low
Hong Kong's jobless rate remains at a 30-month low with the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February to April hitting 3.3 percent, down from 3.4 percent in the previous three months before that, the Census and Statistics Department said yesterday.
The average underemployment rate fell to 1.5 percent from 1.6 percent.
Cleaning services and the financial sector created more jobs.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said, however, that the entry of fresh graduates and school leavers later this year into the job market could bring additional pressure on the employment situation.
The government, therefore, has put in place a series of measures to assist graduates on both the educational and employment fronts, Cheung said.
That came as economists warned the euro zone debt crisis and uncertain global outlook will weigh on the local labor market.
Credit Agricole senior strategist Frances Cheung said the jobless rate could rise to 3.8 percent by the end of the year.
But Recruitment consultancy Robert Half said companies are looking to hire back-office employees such as accounting officers, middle office staff in trade support or trade administration, as well as front office client-facing, relationship employees.
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