C&SD: Private Sector Employment and Vacancies Decline in December 2025

Statistics on persons engaged and vacancies for December 2025

According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (March 20) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.2% or 5 800 persons in December 2025 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 46 000, representing a decrease of 21% or 12 410 over the preceding year.

Persons engaged statistics

In December 2025, the selected industries as a whole engaged 2 710 000 persons. The import and export trade engaged 339 700 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 318 700 persons, financing and insurance 241 600 persons, retail trade 228 300 persons, education 219 400 persons, and food and beverage services 217 600 persons.

Movements in the number of persons engaged in different surveyed industries varied when compared with a year earlier. Increases were mainly observed in the industries of real estate (3.6% or 5 300 persons), financing and insurance (3.6% or 8 300 persons), and human health services (3.1% or 5 000 persons). On the other hand, the number of persons engaged decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-10.8% or -13 100 persons), import and export trade (-4.2% or -14 800 persons), cleaning and similar services (-2.1% or -1 700 persons), and retail trade (-1.9% or -4 400 persons). Number of persons engaged for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.

Vacancies statistics

Among the 46 000 private sector vacancies in December 2025, 5 710 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 5 020 from education, 4 400 from residential care and social work services, 4 200 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 3 510 from food and beverage services.

Vacancies decreased in majority of the selected industries in December 2025 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-1 970 or -36%), real estate (-1 720 or -39%), construction sites (manual workers only) (-1 610 or -93%), and professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-1 470 or -26%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industry of financing and insurance (790 or 16%). Job vacancies figures for selected major industries are shown in Table 2.

Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of services and sales workers (15 250 vacancies), professionals (8 670 vacancies), and associate professionals (8 000 vacancies). Job vacancies figures by major occupation category are shown in Table 3.

Seasonally adjusted statistics

For discerning the latest trend in the number of persons engaged and vacancies in the private sector, it is useful to look at changes over a three-month period in the respective seasonally adjusted figures. Compared with September 2025, the seasonally adjusted total number of persons engaged and total vacancies in the surveyed industries increased by 0.2% and decreased by 3.9% respectively in December 2025. The changes over three-month periods in the seasonally adjusted series of persons engaged and vacancies are shown in Table 4.

Other information

The above statistics on persons engaged and vacancies were obtained from the Quarterly Survey of Employment and Vacancies and the Quarterly Employment Survey of Construction Sites conducted by the C&SD. In the former survey, some economic activities (e.g. those dominated by self-employment, including taxi operators and hawkers) are not covered. Therefore, the respective figures for persons engaged and vacancies relate only to those selected industries included in the survey. In the latter survey on construction sites, the number of persons engaged and vacancies relate to manual workers only.

A detailed breakdown of the above statistics is published in the following reports:

"Quarterly Report of Persons Engaged and Vacancies Statistics, December 2025"

(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)

"Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, December 2025"

(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050004&scode=452)

Users can browse and download these publications at the website of the C&SD.

Enquiries on more detailed statistics on persons engaged and vacancies can be directed to the Employment Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 5076 or email: employment@censtatd.gov.hk).

The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), Photo source: reference image

ExCo Non-official Members congratulate successful launch of manned Shenzhou-23 spacecraft

The following is issued on behalf of the Executive Council Secretariat:

Non-official Members of the Executive Council (ExCo) today (May 24) warmly congratulate the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceship. They extend their highest respect to all crew members, including Dr Lai Ka-ying, the first payload expert from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

The Convenor of ExCo Non-official Members, Mrs Regina Ip, said, "This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. This mission is the first manned spaceflight during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and the first time a Hong Kong expert has participated, which is a truly momentous occasion. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent with this invaluable opportunity to take part in the country's aerospace endeavours. Dr Lai has successfully undergone the rigorous selection and training process to become one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts, and China's fourth female astronaut to reach space, contributing Hong Kong's strength to the national aerospace endeavours. She has exemplified the Lion Rock spirit of rising to challenges with resilience and perseverance. Her courage and determination are truly admirable, and all Hong Kong citizens are immensely inspired and proud of her. The understanding and support of her family are also essential for her to participate in this mission with resolution. I am deeply grateful for their support and commitment.

"The HKSAR Government is actively developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and supporting promising research projects through various funding schemes. As an example, the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (MUSICO) camera, developed under a project led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and funded by the Government's Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology, has successfully arrived at China's Tiangong Space Station, becoming Hong Kong's first scientific payload aboard the station. This fully demonstrates Hong Kong's innovation and technology edge and talent advantages."

Non-official Members of the Executive Council expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the country for its high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements, as well as its profound emphasis, care and support for Hong Kong's scientific and technological development. They firmly believe that the HKSAR Government will seize this historic moment to nurture more outstanding innovation and technology talent for the country and Hong Kong, and better integrate into and serve the country's overall development.

Source: AI-found images