Private Sector Employment Drops 0.4% in March 2026 as Job Vacancies Decrease by 12% According to C&SD Statistics

Statistics on persons engaged and vacancies for March 2026

According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (June 22) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.4% or 10 100 persons in March 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 48 610, representing a decrease of 12% or 6 560 over the preceding year.

Persons engaged statistics

In March 2026, the selected industries as a whole engaged 2 704 300 persons. The import and export trade engaged 336 200 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 319 800 persons, financing and insurance 231 600 persons, retail trade 228 800 persons, education 220 600 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 (3.4% or 4 900 persons), arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (2.5% or 3 100 persons), and residential care and social work services (2.3% or 1 700 persons). On the other hand, the number of persons engaged decreased mainly in the industries of construction sites (manual workers only) (-9.0% or -11 200 persons), import and export trade (-3.9% or -13 600 persons), transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-1.0% or -1 700 persons), retail trade (-0.9% or -2 000 persons), and wholesale (-0.9% or -400 persons). 

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Vacancies statistics

Among the 48 610 private sector vacancies in March 2026, 4 900 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 680 from education, another 4 680 from residential care and social work services, 4 620 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 3 630 from food and beverage services.

Vacancies decreased in majority of the selected industries in March 2026 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of food and beverage services (-1 230 or -25%), education (-980 or -17%), human health services (-790 or -22%), and arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-750 or -21%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of financing and insurance (240 or 5%), and manufacturing (130 or 7%). 

Analysed by major occupation category, private sector vacancies were observed mainly in the categories of services and sales workers (16 550 vacancies), associate professionals (9 440 vacancies), and professionals (8 480 vacancies). 

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 December 2025, the seasonally adjusted total number of persons engaged and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.3% and increased by 1.6% respectively in March 2026. 

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.

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

"Quarterly Report of Persons Engaged and Vacancies Statistics, March 2026"

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

"Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, March 2026"

(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).

Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes sixth meeting

The sixth meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission was held today (June 22).

At the meeting, the Office of the Government Economist briefed members on Hong Kong's latest economic performance and labour market situation. Members noted that Hong Kong's economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.9 per cent over a year earlier, marking the strongest economic growth in nearly five years. The labour market showed moderate improvement in recent months, with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (for March 2026 to May 2026) dropping from 3.9per cent to 3.7per cent compared with the period from November 2025 to January 2026. Looking ahead, Hong Kong's economic outlook remains largely resilient, with the real Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for 2026 projected at 2.5per cent to 3.5per cent.

In addition, the Security Bureau briefed members on the various immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses. These included measures facilitating the southbound and northbound two-way flow of talent, and visa and immigration facilitation measures. Through the immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and fully leverage Hong Kong's unique role as a "super connector" under "one country, two systems" to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. Members welcomed the enhancement measures, noting that they would further enrich Hong Kong's talent ecosystem and inject new momentum into the city's long-term economic development.

Members also noted that the Health Bureau had commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to carry out a new round of healthcare manpower projections this year. The purpose of the projection exercise is to ensure that there are sufficient healthcare professionals to meet the ever-evolving demand for healthcare services in society, and that the relevant training policies remain aligned with actual circumstances. The Government and the HA will further refine the methodology for this round of projection and promote data collection simultaneously. This includes systematically compiling relevant data such as overall service volume statistics, human resource distribution, and local training scale from the industry and various medical specialties. Views regarding future population changes and the status of technology application raised by members will be incorporated. The results are expected to be published in mid-2027. Based on the projection results, the Government will revisit the existing strategies for local healthcare manpower in tandem with the next University Grants Committee triennium, as well as the reviews of other schemes, in making further recommendations on the relevant healthcare training places. With a continuously ageing population, the demand for healthcare services is facing structural growth. Members supported the HKSAR Government's proactive efforts in conducting the healthcare manpower projection, utilising data analysis to guide policy and service planning, thereby enhancing the precision and forward-looking nature of public health policies.

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