Recruiting in China

Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted jobless rate nudged up from 4.1 percent in the May-to-July period to 4.2 percent from June to August, officials said yesterday. Increases in the jobless rate were experienced mainly in the communications, real estate and wholesale trade sectors, the Census Statistics Department of Hong Kong said.

Decreases in the underemployment rate, which held stable at 2.3 percent, were seen mainly in foundation and superstructure construction, and communications sectors, offsetting increases in welfare and community services and retail trade. Total employment grew by about 10,100 from 3,494,200 in May-July to an all-time high of 3,504,300 in June-August. Over the same period, the labor force swelled by about 18,500 from 3,652, 200 to a new high of 3,670,700.