Hong Kong's jobless rate is 3.9%, but 9.1% for ages 20 to 29: how to read the latest figures

The overall unemployment rate is 3.9%, yet for people aged 20 to 29 it is 9.1%, more than double. These are Hong Kong's labour market figures for July to September 2026, as relayed by a third party.

According to the data website Trading Economics, the Census and Statistics Department released the July to September figures on 22 October 2026. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 3.8% in the previous period to 3.9%, while the non-seasonally adjusted rate rose from 4.0% to 4.1%. At the time of writing, the editorial team has not been able to check the official press release, so all July to September figures in this article are third-party reports pending official verification.

July to September: about 155,000 unemployed, underemployment rate up to 2.0%

As relayed by Trading Economics, the number of unemployed people in July to September was about 155,000, up by about 1,100 on the previous period. Total employment was about 3.655 million, up by about 3,000. The underemployment rate rose from 1.9% to 2.0%, with about 75,000 people underemployed, up by about 2,900. The labour force participation rate was 56.6%, the same as in the previous period.

Unemployment and underemployment rose together, while employment grew only slightly. In the editorial team's view, this combination deserves more attention than the 3.9% figure alone.

The past six months: a slow climb from 3.7% to 3.9%

Putting the latest periods side by side, the direction is fairly clear:

• March to May: unemployment rate 3.7%, underemployment rate 1.5% (government press release, 16 June 2026, provisional figures).
• May to July: unemployment rate 3.7%, underemployment rate up from 1.6% to 1.7% (government press release, 20 August 2026).
• June to August: unemployment rate up to 3.8%, underemployment rate up to 1.9% (HR Online, citing figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on 17 September).
• July to September: unemployment rate 3.9%, underemployment rate 2.0% (as relayed by Trading Economics, pending official verification).

The number of underemployed people has kept rising: about 56,800 in March to May, about 66,200 in May to July, about 72,100 in June to August and about 75,000 in July to September.

For comparison with last year: the official seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July to September 2025 was also 3.9%, up from 3.7% in June to August 2025. At that time there were 155,600 unemployed people, the underemployment rate was 1.6% and total employment was 3,674,500. In other words, this year's unemployment rate is similar to the same period last year, but the underemployment rate is higher and total employment (the figure for this year being a third-party report) is lower.

Age: where the 9.1% comes from

The official press releases cited in this article do not give figures by age. The unemployment rate for ages 20 to 29 comes from Trading Economics: it rose from 8.4% to 9.1% in June to August and stayed at 9.1% in July to September. The sources cited here also contain no separate unemployment rate for recent graduates.

In the August press release, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, said that fresh graduates and school leavers entering the labour market might put some pressure on the unemployment rate, and that attention should be paid to the impact of external adverse factors on employers' hiring appetite.

Sectors: the focus differs in every period

• March to May: unemployment rate fell in cleaning and similar activities, and rose in social work activities and accommodation services (the official release gave no specific figures).
• May to July: unemployment rate fell mainly in the foundation and superstructure construction sector, and rose in retail and transport; underemployment rose mainly in education.
• June to August: according to HR Online, the rise in unemployment was most visible in food and beverage services, while underemployment rose mainly in food and beverage services and construction.
• July to September: as relayed by Trading Economics, unemployment was notable in social work and in warehousing and transport support services, while the rise in underemployment was mainly in food and beverage services and retail (pending official verification).

For July to September last year, the official press release said the rise in unemployment was most visible in social work activities and construction, while it fell in finance and human health activities.

Editorial analysis: what graduates and job switchers can watch

The following is the editorial team's reading of the figures above. It is not an official or research conclusion, and it is not personal employment advice.

1. Look at the sector first, then the total. 3.9% is the citywide average. If the sector you work in or want to move into keeps appearing on the lists where unemployment or underemployment is rising, such as food and beverage or retail, the same headline figure means something different for you.
2. Watch changes in underemployment. The number of underemployed people rose from about 56,800 to about 75,000 in six months. For those already in work, it is worth checking before changing jobs whether the target sector is also on the rising lists.
3. Read the 9.1% over time. The Secretary mentioned in August the pressure from graduates entering the market, and the unemployment rate also rose from 3.7% to 3.9% over the same period last year; whether the two are directly related cannot be determined from the available data.
4. Keep an eye on external factors. The official press releases for August this year and for the same period last year both noted that external factors might affect employers' hiring appetite.

Period covered and updates

The data in this article run to October 2026. The latest period is July to September 2026, and its figures are third-party reports pending verification against the official press release. This article will need updating once the department releases the next set of figures.

The numbers change every month, but the way to read them does not: first ask which period, then which age group and which sector, and only then the total.

Prices and details correct as of October 2026

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.