Officials say transport and communications drove most of the rise in underemployment
Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.8% for October through December 2025, matching the previous three-month period, according to new figures from the Census and Statistics Department.
The underemployment rate increased to 1.7% from 1.6% during the same period, the department reported.
Total employment decreased by approximately 2,900 workers from 3,669,900 in September through November 2025 to 3,667,000 in October through December 2025. The statistics, compiled from the General Household Survey, showed that the labour force also decreased by around 9,100 from 3,814,300 to 3,805,200 over the same period.
The number of unemployed persons decreased by around 6,200 from 144,400 to 138,200. Meanwhile, the number of underemployed persons increased by approximately 3,900 from 60,900 to 64,800.
Movements in the unemployment rate across different industry sectors varied, though the magnitudes were generally small, according to the department. The underemployment rate increased mainly in the transportation sector and information and communications sector. The cleaning and similar activities sector saw a decline in underemployment.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said, “The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed at 3.8% in October–December 2025, same as that in the preceding three-month period. The underemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 1.7%. Over the same period, the labour force and total employment decreased slightly, and the number of unemployed persons also decreased further.”
Looking ahead, Sun said, “The continued growth of the Hong Kong economy and the improvement in local consumption sentiment should help stabilise the labour market. Nonetheless, the employment situations in some sectors may continue to be affected by their challenging business conditions.”
Recent surveys suggest cautious optimism among employers as the city enters 2026. According to a global salary survey released in late 2025, about 34% of employers in Hong Kong plan to increase hiring volume this year, reflecting a modest rise in recruitment intentions compared with recent periods.
At the same time, only about 30% of professionals reported low confidence in job opportunities – a 16-point improvement from last year – indicating a rebound in hiring confidence. Employers and employees alike are balancing optimism with caution as structural shifts related to technology and automation shape workforce needs.
The General Household Survey covered a sample of approximately 26,000 households or 68,000 persons.
