Jobless rate steady at 3.7% since start of 2026 but pressure mounting
Hong Kong’s jobless rate has remained unchanged since the start of the year, new figures show, although the labour chief has warned of rising pressure on unemployment as fresh graduates enter the workforce. The Census and Statistics Department said on Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.7 per cent for the May-to-July period, remaining at that level on a rolling…
Hong Kong's unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7% for the first quarter of 2026, according to latest statistics from the Census and Statistics Department. Despite this stability, Labour Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han cautioned that pressure may increase as fresh graduates join the workforce. The underemployment rate rose slightly to 1.7%.
The department reported that both the labor force and total employment grew, contributing to the unchanged joblessness figure. Unemployment rose to 145,700, up from 139,700 in the previous three months. The decline was most notable in the foundation and superstructure sectors, while it worsened in retail and transport. The government recently boosted its economic growth forecast for 2026, citing robust exports and tourism.
However, experts warn that artificial intelligence could disrupt the job market, particularly for fresh graduates. Lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai noted that the retail sector faces a decline as residents spend more outside Hong Kong and turn to e-commerce. Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department reported an increase in the number of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance cases in July.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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