Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the July-September period fell to a 62-month low of 4.7 percent, down from 4.8 percent in June-August, Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department said Tuesday.

According to statistics released by the department, the underemployment rate also fell from 2.4 percent in the June-August period to 2.3 percent in the July-September period.

Decreases in the unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, were mainly observed in the sanitary services, construction and manufacturing sectors. For the underemployment rate, falls were primarily found in the foundation and superstructure construction, communications and restaurants sectors, the department said.

Total employment rose by around 23,100, from 3,473,800 in June-August to an all-time high of 3,496,900 in July-September. Over the same period, the labor force grew by around 14,600, from 3,662, 700 to a new high of 3,677,300.

The number of jobless people fell by 8,500, from 188,900 in June-August to 180,400 in July-September, while the number of underemployed fell by 2,600 to 86,200.

The Hong Kong Census and Statistic Department said the labor market showed a broad-based improvement in July-September, as employers generally increased their staffing levels amid the sustained economic revival.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2006)