Unemployment rate edged up to 3.2% in September-November

The unemployment rate in F&B service activities sector reached an eight-year high.

The unemployment rate in Hong Kong edged up to 3.2% during the three-month period ending November, from 3.1% in August-November, according to data from the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). The number of unemployed persons remained unchanged at 125,400.

According to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong, the unemployment rate of the consumption- and tourism-related segment rose at a three-year high of 5.2%. Particularly, the rate in the food and beverages (F&B) service activities sector reached an eight-year record of 6.2%.

"The labour market will be under even more pressure in the near term if the overall economy continues to weaken,” Law said.

Over the same period, the underemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.2%, although the number of underemployed persons grew by around 1,000 to 46,900.

The decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings sector and the F&B service activities sector mainly saw a rise in underemployment, whilst those in the repair, laundry, domestic and other personal service activities sector saw declines.

Total employment fell by around 13,200 to 3.83 million. Over the same period, the labour force contracted by around 13,300 to 3.96 million.