Hong Kong Jobless Rate Steady At 3.5%

(RTTNews) - Hong Kong's unemployment rate held steady in the April to June period, labor force statistics from the Census and Statistics Department showed on Thursday.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.5 percent for April to June, the same as in the March-May period.

The data showed that the underemployment rate remained stable at 1.4 percent.

Without adjustment, the unemployment rate also stayed steady at 3.6 percent. The number of unemployed persons was 136,200, compared to 135,800 in the March-May period.

"Looking ahead, the trend of unemployment rate will hinge on the overall economic performance," Chris Sun, the secretary for labor and welfare, said.

The entry of fresh graduates and school leavers during the summer may impact the overall employment situation; however, the continued expansion of the Hong Kong economy should provide support to the labor market.