Hong Kong’s jobless rate rises to 9-month high of 5 per cent as social-distancing curbs put job market under ‘severe pressure’
- Rolling three-month figure from January to March up 0.5 percentage points amid city’s tough social-distancing restrictions, with 26,900 more people losing their jobs
- Labour chief Law Chi-kwong says he hopes various relief measures will help boost affected sectors
The jobless rate was up 0.5 percentage points in the rolling period from January to March, compared with 4.5 per cent in the period from December to February, according to provisional figures the Census and Statistics Department released on Thursday.
The unemployment figure was 5.4 per cent in the April to June period last year.
From January to March, Hong Kong imposed some of its tightest social-distancing restrictions yet as it battled a surge in coronavirus infections.
Thirteen types of premises were ordered to suspend operations amid the city’s fifth Covid-19 wave. They were: amusement game centres, fitness centres, public entertainment venues, beauty parlours, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises, swimming pools, bathhouses, places of amusement, party rooms, night clubs, massage establishments and sports facilities.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong said the labour market was under “severe pressure” but that he hoped various relief measures would help boost affected sectors.
“While the labour market will still be subject to pressure in the near term, with the easing of the local epidemic situation of late, together with the launch of a new round of consumption vouchers, business in the consumption-related sectors should gradually improve and thus support employment in these sectors,” Law said.
Unemployment in sectors heavily affected by social-distancing rules, such as catering and retail, remained high.
