Hong Kong Unemployment Rate Steady at 3.7%

Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.7% in the three months ending in April 2026, unchanged from the seven-month low recorded in the previous period. The number of unemployed persons increased by 2,600 to 139,200, while total employment fell by 7,700 to 3.65 million. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate for those aged 20 to 29 edged down to 6.8% from 6.9% in March, while the underemployment rate eased to 1.5% from 1.6%, and the labour force participation rate slipped slightly to 56.3% from 56.4%. Looking ahead, authorities said the solid growth momentum of Hong Kong’s economy should continue to support the labour market, although the government will remain vigilant over the potential impact of elevated geopolitical risks and continue to closely monitor developments.

Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 3.7% in the three months ending March 2026 from 3.8% in the previous month, marking the lowest reading since August 2025. The number of unemployed persons increased by 1,900 month-on-month to 136,600, while total employment declined by 7,300 to 3.66 million. The youth unemployment rate, for those aged 20 to 29, remained steady at 6.9%, unchanged from February. The underemployment rate ticked lower to 1.6% from 1.7%, and the labour force participation rate also decreased to 56.4% from 56.5%. According to Mr. Chris Sun, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, “The sustained growth of the Hong Kong economy should underpin the overall labour market. The Government will continue to closely monitor developments in geopolitical tensions and assess the potential implications for the labour market.”

Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to 3.8% in the three months ending February 2026, from a 2022-high of 3.9% in the previous period. The number of unemployed persons declined by 3,700 to 134,700, while total employment decreased by 2,900 to 3.66 million. The youth unemployment rate, for those aged 20 to 29, also ticked lower to 6.9% from 7% in the three months ending January, marking its lowest level since June 2025. The underemployment rate remained steady at 1.7%, and the labour force participation rate fell slightly to 56.5% from 56.7%. Looking ahead, the sustained growth momentum of the Hong Kong economy is expected to continue supporting the overall labour market, although employment conditions in some local sectors may still face challenges depending on business performance.