Hong Kong Jobless Rate Stable At 3.2%

(RTTNews) - Hong Kong's unemployment rate held steady in the January-March period, labor force statistics from the Census and Statistics Department showed on Tuesday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.2 percent in the January-March period, the same as in the December-February period.

The data showed that the underemployment rate also remained stable at 1.1 percent.

On an unadjusted basis, the unemployment rate climbed to 3.2 percent from 2.9 percent.

The number of unemployed persons was 122,800, compared to 111,700 in the December-February period.

"The increasingly uncertain external environment due to escalated trade conflicts may weigh on hiring sentiment in some sectors," Mr. Chris Sun, the secretary for labor and welfare, said.

"Nonetheless, the continued growth of the mainland economy, supported by the central government's boosting policies, alongside the SAR government's various policy measures to continuously promote economic growth and support enterprises, is expected to provide support to labor demand."