The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.4% for the period between August and October, unchanged from the period between July and September, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 3.8% during the period.

Total employment increased by 2,900 to 3,627,700 while the labour force stood at 3,885,500, about the same as that in the period between July and September.

There were 257,800 unemployed people from August to October, a decrease of 2,000 from the preceding three-month period. The number of underemployed people also fell by 1,100 for the period to 148,000.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said the labour market conditions remained difficult but showed further signs of stabilisation as the local epidemic situation stayed contained during the period.

Analysed by sector, the unemployment rate of the consumption and tourism-related sectors, including retail, accommodation and food services, decreased by 0.5 percentage points to 11.2%.

Among those sectors, the unemployment rate for food and beverage service activities eased to 14.8%, while that of the transportation sector surged by 0.6 percentage points to 6.2%, the highest in close to 17 years.

Looking ahead, Dr Law said: “While the overall economic situation saw some improvement in recent months, hiring sentiments among employers would probably remain cautious, especially when the economic outlook is still clouded by the evolving pandemic situation.

“The labour market will remain under pressure in the near term.

“The Government has already rolled out relief measures on an unprecedented scale, including a host of measures to create and stabilise employment.”

It will continue to monitor the situation closely, he added.