Job openings in the city’s wholesale & retail industry fell by 20.9 per cent year-on-year to 3,780 for the fourth quarter of 2015, but workers in the sectors were earning a bit more compared to one year ago, the latest official data released yesterday by the Statistics and Census Service reveals. During the three months, a total of 55,812 workers were engaged in the wholesale and retail field, an increase of 12 per cent compared to the same quarter of 2014. Of the total, full time employees accounted for 81 per cent, or 45,233, whilst those working for retail businesses amounted to 35,446, a year-on-year lift of 10.3 per cent. These retail or wholesale workers earned an average MOP12,480 (US$1,560) last December, which climbed by 4.3 per cent year-on-year compared to MOP11,960 one year ago. Labourers engaged in retail businesses enjoyed a higher growth in their salaries for the month, up 5.2 per cent year-on-year to MOP12,670. Retail or wholesale workers with local ID cards were also given a higher wage hike for the month as well. Their average earnings amounted to MOP13,590, up 4.6 per cent year-on-year, while non-resident workers in the same field were paid on average MOP10,240 for the month, a jump of 3.5 per cent year-on-year. Double-digit salary hike for security activities Official data also indicated that average earnings for workers engaged in security activities registered a year-on-year increase of 11.6 per cent to MOP12,470 last December. Some 10,621 labourers were working in the field for the fourth quarter of 2015, up 22.5 per cent year-on-year from 8,668. Vacancies in the industry, however, posted a year-on-year decrease of 16.2 per cent to 1,250. In addition, average earnings of workers in public sewage & refuse disposal activities posted a year-on-year hike of 11.5 per cent to MOP16,350 last December. The industry supported 851 workers during the previous quarter, up by 8.5 per cent year-on-year. Transport & Communication lowest wage hike Although average earnings of workers engaged in Transport, storage and communications were the highest compared to the other mentioned industries in the month, at MOP20,510, it was only up by one per cent compared to the same month of 2014. Such a slight rise in their earnings was due to average earnings for non-resident workers in the sector being cut by some 9.1 per cent year-on-year to MOP15,660 from MOP17,220 one year ago. Nevertheless, resident labourers of the industry still enjoyed a salary hike of 6.5 per cent year-on-year to MOP23,160 from MOP21,740. During the quarter, a total of 10,319 persons were working in the field, which is a slight jump of 2.9 per cent year-on-year. The industry had 895 vacancies during the three months, down 9 per cent year-on-year.
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