FX.co ★ Hong Kong Jobless Rate Edges Higher to 3.9%

Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 3.9% in the three months ending September 2026, from 3.8% in the preceding period. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the jobless rate also rose slightly, to 4.1% from 4.0%, as the number of unemployed persons increased by 1,100 month‑on‑month to 155,000. Job losses were concentrated in social work activities and in warehousing and support activities for transportation. At the same time, total employment grew by 3,000 to 3.655 million. The youth unemployment rate for those aged 20 to 29 held steady at 9.1%. The underemployment rate edged up to 2.0% from 1.9%, with the number of underemployed persons increasing by 2,900 to 75,000, mainly in food and beverage service activities and the retail sector. The labour force participation rate was unchanged at 56.6%.