JOBLESS RATE RISES TO 5%

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate climbed to 5% for the period between January and March, rising 0.5 percentage points compared with the previous period from December 2021 to February 2022, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate increased to 3.1% during the period.

Total employment dropped by about 54,000 to 3,610,500 while the labour force fell by about 27,100 to 3,799,000.

There were 188,500 unemployed people from January to March, an increase of around 26,900 from the preceding three-month period. The number of underemployed people rose by around 27,800 to 117,000.

Almost all major economic sectors saw an increase in both the unemployment rate and underemployment rate.

Commenting on the figures, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said the labour market was under severe pressure amid the fifth wave of the local COVID-19 epidemic.

Looking ahead, he said the labour market will still be subject to pressure in the near term.

However, with the easing local epidemic situation of late, together with the launch of a new round of consumption vouchers, the business of the consumption-related sectors should gradually improve and thus support employment in these sectors.

Besides, the Government has been rolling out various relief measures, including the forthcoming 2022 Employment Support Scheme, to support enterprises and help keep workers in employment.

“It is essential for the community to work in unison to support the Government to put the local epidemic under control as swiftly as possible,” Dr Law added.

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