Labor market

IN 2015, the labor force totaled 3.91 million people, of whom 51 percent were men and 49 percent were women. The majority, or 88.4 percent, were employed in the service sectors: 30.6 percent in the import/ export, wholesale and retail trades, and accommodation and food services; 26.5 percent in public administration, and social and personal services; 20 percent in financing and insurance, real estate, and professional and business services; and 11.3 percent in transport, storage, postal and courier services, and information and communications. Only 2.7 percent worked in manufacturing.

Employment situation

In 2015, the overall unemployment rate was 3.3 percent, the same as that in 2014, while the underemployment rate fell to 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent in 2014. Total employment rose by about 31,700 to 3,780,900 from 3,749,200 in 2014.

Employment earnings

In 2015, 12.7 percent of employed persons earned less than HK$5,000 (US$641.9) a month, while 19.9 percent of employed persons earned HK$30,000 and above a month. Median monthly employment earnings rose to HK$14,500 from HK$13,400 in 2014. The median monthly employment earnings for higher skilled workers, such as managers and administrators, professionals and associate professionals, was HK$27,000, while that for lower skilled workers was HK$11,000.