Where have all the employees gone?

There are 57,690 jobs in the private sector but there's no one to fill the positions.

According to a release, total private-sector employment rose 3.6% in September, or by 89,800 people, compared with the same month last year. Vacancies increased 13% to 57,690.

The Census & Statistics Department said employment increases were recorded in the industries of construction sites (12.8%); real estate (8.8%); food and beverage services (7.9%); cleaning and similar services (7.2%); and accommodation services (7.1%).

Employment fell mainly in the manufacturing sector (-5.2%).

Of the 57,690 private-sector vacancies, 7,290 were in food and beverage services, 6,700 in import-export, 6,140 in retail, 5,790 in professional and business services, and 4,760 in the financing and insurance sectors.

Vacancies increased in most of the selected industries in September over a year earlier. Increases were mainly in professional and business services (52%); human health services (95%); education (34%); manufacturing (45%); and import and export (11%).

Decreases were seen mainly in arts, entertainment, recreation and other services (-15%); financing and insurance (-9%); and information and communications (-14%).