Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate worsened from 3.7% during the three-month period from December 2019 to February 2020 to 7.2% in the period from December 2020 to February 2021, according to the latest labour force statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department.

When compared to the previous period ended January 2021, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2%.

Year-on-year, the underemployment rate also rose from 1.5% for the period ended February 2020 to 4.0% in the period ended February 2021.

The underemployment rate also increased from 3.8% in November 2020 to January 2021 to 4.0% in December 2020 to February 2021.

Comparing December 2020 to February 2021 with November 2020 to January 2021, the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased across almost all the major economic sectors, with more distinct increases observed in the import and export trade sector; postal and courier activities sector; education sector; and arts, entertainment and recreation sector.

Total employment decreased from 3.63 million in November 2020 - January 2021 to 3.61 million in the December 2020 to February 2021. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased from 3.88 million to 3.87 million.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, said, "The labour market remained under notable pressure in December 2020 to February 2021. However, the situation tended to stabilise in the latter part of the three-month period alongside the improvement in the Covid-19 situation.”

Looking ahead, Chi-kwong said, "The labour market will still face challenges in the near term as the pandemic has yet to be fully contained and inbound tourism remains frozen. With the launch of the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, the threat of the pandemic may gradually recede and this will help ease the pressure on the labour market later in the year. The government will continue to monitor the situation closely."