2020.04.2011:31:00UTC+00Hong Kong Jobless Rate Reaches Highest Level In More Than 9 Years

Hong Kong's jobless rate rose to its highest level in more than nine years in the first quarter, data from the Census and Statistics Department showed on Monday.

The jobless rate increased to 4.2 percent in during January to March from 3.7 percent during December to February period.

The latest unemployment rate was the highest in more than nine years.

The number of unemployed persons increased to 162,200 during the three months ended March from 134,100 in the preceding period.

At the same time, the number of employed persons declined by around 48,800 persons to 3.72 million during the January to March period.

"The labor market showed further sharp deterioration as the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted a wide range of economic activities," the Secretary for Labor and Welfare Law Chi-kwong said.

"The labor market will continue to face significant pressure from the economic fallout arising from the pandemic in the near term," Chi-kwong added.