August 20, 2002	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 10, 1423

HONG KONG, Aug 19: Hong Kong’s jobless rate rose to a new record of 7.8 per cent in the three months to July as fresh graduates and school leavers poured into the weak labour market, the government said Monday.

The unemployment rate was up from 7.7 per cent in the three months to June. The under-employment rate — those with jobs paying insufficient to cover their basic needs — edged down, from 2.9 per cent to 2.8 per cent, the Census and Statistics Department said.

A government spokesman said while total employment showed an increase in the latest period, this was outpaced by the increase in the labour supply due to graduates and school leavers looking for work.

The spokesman said the government would continue to give top priority to tackling unemployment.

Sectors with rising unemployment included construction, retail, business services and communications. Rises in these sectors more than offset declines in decoration and maintenance, restaurants, real estate and manufacturing.

The total labour force expanded further to 3.50 million in the three months to July from 3.46 million in the three months to June. Total employment rose more slowly from 3.20 to 3.22 million over the same period.—AFP