Hong Kong’s unemployment rate for the September – November 2006 period fell to a provisional 4.4%, the lowest level since the beginning of 2001, from 4.5% in the preceding three-month period.

Decreases in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) were mainly seen in the wholesale and retail trades, manufacturing and restaurants sectors.

The territory’s underemployment rate rose to a provisional 2.5% from 2.4% in the same comparison periods, with increases seen primarily in the manufacturing, education services, and decoration and maintenance sectors.

In the September – November period, total employment grew by around 12,900 to an all-time provisional high of 3,514,300 from the previous three-month period. The labor force grew by around 5,600 to a provisional 3,675,900 in the same comparison periods.

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government spokesman noted that the unemployment situation continued to improve on the back of robust economic performance.