Unemployment and underemployment statistics for September - November 2024
According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for September - November 2024) released today (December 17) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in September - November 2024, same as that in August - October 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.1% in the two periods.
Comparing September - November 2024 with August - October 2024, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but the magnitudes were generally not large.
Total employment increased by around 4 700 from 3 707 100 in August - October 2024 to 3 711 800 in September - November 2024. Over the same period, the labour force also increased by around 3 600 from 3 827 900 to 3 831 500.
The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) decreased by around 1 000 from 120 700 in August - October 2024 to 119 700 in September - November 2024. Over the same period, the number of underemployed persons also decreased by around 600 from 42 300 to 41 700.
Commentary
Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said, "The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.1% in September - November 2024, same as August - October 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.1%. The labour force and total employment bounced back by 3 600 and 4 700 to 3 831 500 and 3 711 800 respectively. The number of unemployed persons decreased by 1 000 to 119 700."
The unemployment rates of various sectors showed diverse movements in September - November 2024 compared with the preceding three-month period. More notable increases in the unemployment rates were seen in the decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings sector; the insurance sector; and the postal and courier activities sector. More visible declines in the unemployment rates were observed in the warehousing and support activities for transportation sector and the arts, entertainment and recreation sector.
Looking ahead, Mr Sun said, "The labour market should remain largely stable in the near term, though the situation in some sectors might be more affected by increased uncertainties in the global economy and escalation in trade tension."
Further information
The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.
In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization. The employed population covers all employers, self-employed persons, employees (including full-time, part-time, casual workers, etc.) and unpaid family workers. Unemployed persons by industry (or occupation) are classified according to their previous industry (or occupation).
The survey for September - November 2024 covered a sample of some 26 000 households or 69 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong. Labour force statistics compiled from this sample represented the situation in the moving three-month period of September to November 2024.
Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.
Statistical tables on the latest labour force statistics can be downloaded at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode200.html). More detailed analysis of the labour force characteristics is given in the "Quarterly Report on General Household Survey" which is published four times a year. The latest issue of the report contains statistics for the quarter July - September 2024 while the next issue covering the quarter October - December 2024 will be available by end February 2025. Users can also browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050001&scode=200).
For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the General Household Survey Section (3) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Public healthcare fees and charges reform strengthens protection for poor, acute, serious and critical patients number of waiver recipients is 3.5 times annual total of previous year
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (January 9) that in addition to the 600 000 people who have been benefiting from medical fee waivers both before and after the reform (including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme Level 0 vouchers), as of January 7, the HA has approved 49 310 medical fee waiver applications. This figure is 3.5 times of approximately 14 000 patients who received medical fee waivers in previous year, demonstrating that the enhanced medical fee reduction mechanism has significantly strengthened support for low-income families and underprivileged groups. Over the past week, many patients have benefited from the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, receiving immediate fee reduction when using Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E), outpatient and inpatient services.
Medical fee waivers take effect covering more than 10 000 poor patients
As an essential component of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the HA expanded its medical fee waivers mechanism at the same time, which significantly increased the number of eligible individuals from approximately 300 000 to about 1.4 million - around 4.6 times the previous number of beneficiaries. This ensures that limited medical resources can be more precisely directed to help those most in need: the poor, acute, serious, and critical patients. As of January 7, among the 49 310 medical fee waiver applications approved by the HA, 32 249 cases have completed assessment and received formal waiver certificates valid for up to 18 months but claimed . For patients who claim to meet the medical fee waivers eligibility criteria but are unable to submit supporting documents for financial assessment, the HA has exercised flexible arrangements to approve 17 061 "conditional waivers", allowing patients to obtain immediate medical fee reductions when using public healthcare services. These patients must submit relevant documentation within three months.
After the fees and charges reform, many patients are benefited for the first time from the expanded medical fee waivers mechanism, changing from paying full fees to receiving free services. From January 1 to 7, excluding the number of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Old Age Living Allowance recipients aged 75 or above, and holders of Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme Level 0 vouchers who can continue to use their medical fee waivers, there are over 11 200 patients benefitted from the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, including:
About 500 poor patients at A&Es,who were triaged as urgent, semi-urgent and non-urgent, received medical fee waivers, triple of last year's figure;
About 2 100 poor patients received medical fee waivers for inpatient services, 3.5 times of last year's figure; and
About 8 600 poor patients received medical fee waivers for specialist outpatient services, six times of last year's figure.
The HA spokesperson stated, "The data concerned shows obviously that the enhanced medical fee waivers mechanism, which is newly introduced in line with the public healthcare fees and charges reform, can allocate resources more precisely to strengthen protection for poor, acute, serious and critical patients, ensuring that no patient is denied from medical care due to lack of means."
The current situation regarding patients' applications and usage of medical fee waivers aligns with the HA's projection. The HA will continue to strengthen its manpower to provide assistance to patients in need. To ensure the integrity of the medical fee assistance system and prevent abuse, the HA will conduct regular reviews of approved cases.
Number of non-urgent A&E patients reduced significantly while treatment efficiency for emergency patients improved
Regarding A&E services, from January 1 to 7, 32 147 patients attended the 18 A&Es under the HA, significantly decreased by about 11.9 per cent of the same period last year. Among the cases, 1 807 patients were classified as critical and emergency cases, and 14 077 patients were classified as urgent cases, showing a slight increase compared to the same period last year. The remaining 16 263 patients were classified as semi-urgent and non-urgent cases, showing a significant decrease of 17.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. Since the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the operations of public hospital A&E services has initially met expected results, including:
Significant decrease in average daily A&E attendances by about 11.9 per cent;
In the past seven days, about 1 800 critical and emergency patients exempted from A&E fees under the new fees and charges reform. These patients were required to pay the fees before the reform;
For patients classified as urgent cases, the percentage of those being treated within 30 minutes - meeting the service pledge target - increased from 82.7per cent last year to 88.8 per cent, with average waiting time reduced from 22 to 19 minutes; and
Among the five triage categories, semi-urgent and non-urgent patients decreased from 54.2 per cent in the same period last year to 50.6 per cent.
The HA spokesperson said, "The service data of the past week shows that the fees and charges reform allowed A&Es to perform their emergency care function more effectively. A&Es can better concentrate resources, treat patients with urgent medical needs more effectively, and improve treatment efficiency for urgent cases."
The HA will continue to closely monitor the fees and charges reform as well as the overall operations of services of public hospitals, in order to ensure achieving the aim of protecting poor, acute, serious or critical patients.
Source: AI-found images
