Hong Kong: Total employment in private institutions decreased by 2,100 year-on-year in June; the number of job vacancies decreased by 4,150 year-on-year.

According to the statistics on employment and job vacancies published today (September 18) by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, comparing June 2026 with the same period last year, the total number of persons employed in private institutions in the industries covered by the survey decreased by 0.1%, or 2,100 persons; while the number of job vacancies was 45,380, a decrease of 8% or 4,150 from the same period last year. Employment Statistics In June 2026, the total number of persons employed in all industries covered was 2,697,400. The import and export trade industry employed 342,800 persons, followed by the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) industry with 314,100 persons, the financing and insurance industry with 234,300 persons, the retail industry with 227,500 persons, and the food and beverage services industry with 218,100 persons. Compared with the same period last year, changes in employment in the selected industries varied. Increases were mainly seen in the accommodation services industry (6.0% or 2,200 persons), the real estate industry (3.5% or 5,100 persons), and the residential care and social work services industry (1.7% or 1,300 persons). On the other hand, industries with decreases in employment mainly included the wholesale industry (-1.9% or -800 persons), the manufacturing industry (-1.8% or -1,400 persons), the import and export trade industry (-1.4% or -4,700 persons), and the transportation, storage, postal and courier services industry (-1.3% or -2,100 persons). Table 1 sets out the employment figures for the selected major industries. Job Vacancy Statistics Among the 45,380 private institution job vacancies in June 2026, the financing and insurance industry accounted for 4,920, the education industry accounted for 4,560, the residential care and social work services industry accounted for 4,450, the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) industry accounted for 4,080, and the food and beverage services industry accounted for 3,530. In June 2026, the number of job vacancies in a number of selected industries decreased compared with the same period last year. Decreases were mainly seen in the real estate industry (-810 or -23%), the education industry (-740 or -14%), the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) industry (-730 or -15%), and the human health services industry (-620 or -18%). On the other hand, industries with increases in job vacancies mainly included the residential care and social work services industry (310 or 8%) and the transportation, storage, postal and courier services industry (140 or 4%). Table 2 sets out the job vacancy figures for the selected major industries. Analysed by major occupational group, job vacancies in private institutions were mainly for service and sales workers (15,330), associate professionals (8,910), and professionals (7,580). Table 3 sets out the job vacancy figures by major occupational group.