The total employment in Hong Kong has increased to an all-time high in October - December 2006.

According to the latest labour force statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department, the total employment increased by 9,100 to 3,523,500 in October - December 2006 compared with the figure in September - November 2006. The labour force has increased by 4,600 to a new high of 3,680,600 in the same period.

It is reported that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.4% in October - December 2006, same as the percentage in September - November 2006. Comparing the two periods, decreases in unemployment rate were more obvious in restaurants, insurance and communication sectors, and increases were observed in amusement and recreational services, sanitary services and real estate sectors.

The underemployment rate has declined from 2.5% to 2.4%. Decreases were mainly found in decoration and maintenance, and amusement and recreational services sectors. For the number of unemployed persons, a decrease of 4,500 to a 66-month low of 157,100 has been recorded in October - December 2006. The number of underemployed persons has decreased by 1,000 to 89,800.

The government comments that the average unemployment rate of 4.8% in 2006 shows a further decrease from 5.6% in 2005 due to a faster growth in total employment than the total labour force.