Hong Kong's unemployment rate falls to lowest level since 2008

Feb 21, 2011, 11:16 GMT

Hong Kong - Hong Kong's unemployment rate has fallen to 3.8 per cent of the working population, its lowest level for nearly three years, according to government figures Monday.

The jobless total for the November-to-January quarter fell by 0.2 percentage points from 4 per cent in the October-to-December quarter, a government statement said.

The number of people without work in the city of 7 million was down by 6,100 compared to the earlier quarter to just over 130,000 people, the statement said.

Secretary for Labour Matthew Cheung said the unemployment total was the lowest since the June-to-August quarter in 2008.

He said 'robust business activities' and increased demand for workers in the run-up to February's Lunar New Year holiday had helped bring the jobless total down.

'Employers generally are still adopting a positive attitude towards hiring,' he said 'More new jobs are expected and the unemployment rate is expected to remain low in the near term.'

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