Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for March-May 2017 held stable as in the previous period (February-April), at 2.0%; the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.6%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate was 0.4%, down by 0.1 percentage point.

Total labour force was 389,400 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.1%. Total employment was 381,800 and employed residents totalled 280,400, up by 300 and 400 respectively from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in Hotels and Gaming & Junket Activities registered an increase, while that in Construction and Restaurants & Similar Activities saw a decrease.

Number of the unemployed was 7,600, down by 100 from the previous period. Fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 8.5% of the total unemployed, down by 1.2 percentage points.

In comparison with March-May 2016, the labour force participation rate and underemployment rate dropped by 0.9 and 0.1 percentage points respectively while the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point.