According to the latest labor force statistics between May and July 2020 released on Aug.19, Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate recorded a slight decrease from 6.2% to 6.1%, with 242,000 unemployed people.
Compared to the number from April to June 2020, the unemployment rate decreases in the information and communication sector, professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar activities) sector and education sector. The total employment has increased by around 16,000 to 3.63 million.
The Secretary for Labor and Welfare, Dr. Law Chi-kwong said that the labor market showed some improvement over April - June as the local epidemic situation was largely under control in May and June. The launch of the Employment Support Scheme has also provided support.
Looking ahead, Law pointed out that the labor market will remain under pressure in the near term, as the recent surge in COVID-19 cases both worldwide and locally.
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