Chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product by economic activity for the second quarter of 2026
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (September 18) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the second quarter of 2026.
GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 4.3% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 5.9% in the first quarter.
Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 5.1% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 6.0% in the first quarter.
Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector increased by 12.8% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 14.5% in the first quarter.
Value added in the accommodation and food services sector decreased by 0.1% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 0.5% in the first quarter.
Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 1.1% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 4.1% in the first quarter.
Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 2.9% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 3.6% in the first quarter.
Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 7.4% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 7.8% in the first quarter.
Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered an increase of 2.4% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 2.7% in the first quarter.
Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 0.9% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 2.0% in the first quarter.
As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 2.3% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 3.1% in the first quarter.
Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector increased by 2.5% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.2% in the first quarter.
Value added in the construction sector decreased by 17.0% in real terms in the second quarter of 2026 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 8.4% in the first quarter.
Further information
The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the second quarter of 2025 to the second quarter of 2026 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report "Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity". Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250). For enquiries about statistics on GDP by economic activity, please call the National Income Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3863 2743.
Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the second quarter of 2026 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.html).
Source: AI-found images
Statistics on persons engaged and vacancies for June 2026
According to the statistics on persons engaged and vacancies released today (September 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), total number of persons engaged in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.1% or 2 100 persons in June 2026 compared with a year earlier. The total number of vacancies was 45 380, representing a decrease of 8% or 4 150 over the preceding year.
Persons engaged statistics
In June 2026, the selected industries as a whole engaged 2 697 400 persons. The import and export trade engaged 342 800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314 100 persons, financing and insurance 234 300 persons, retail trade 227 500 persons, and food and beverage services 218 100 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 accommodation services (6.0% or 2 200 persons), real estate (3.5% or 5 100 persons), and residential care and social work services (1.7% or 1 300 persons). On the other hand, the number of persons engaged decreased mainly in the industries of wholesale (-1.9% or -800 persons), manufacturing (-1.8% or -1 400 persons), import and export trade (-1.4% or -4 700 persons), and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (-1.3% or -2 100 persons). Number of persons engaged for selected major industries are shown in Table 1.
Vacancies statistics
Among the 45 380 private sector vacancies in June 2026, 4 920 were from the industry of financing and insurance, 4 560 from education, 4 450 from residential care and social work services, 4 080 from professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 3 530 from food and beverage services.
Vacancies decreased in many selected industries in June 2026 over a year earlier. Decreases were mainly observed in the industries of real estate (-810 or -23%), education (-740 or -14%), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (-730 or -15%), and human health services (-620 or -18%). On the other hand, vacancies increased mainly in the industries of residential care and social work services (310 or 8%), and transportation, storage, postal and courier services (140 or 4%). 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 (15 330 vacancies), associate professionals (8 910 vacancies), and professionals (7 580 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 March 2026, the seasonally adjusted total number of persons engaged and total vacancies in the surveyed industries decreased by 0.1% and 4.6% respectively in June 2026. 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, June 2026"
(www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050003&scode=452)
"Quarterly Report of Manual Workers and Vacancies at Construction Sites, June 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).
