The March to May jobless rate remained stable at 4.3 percent, while the underemployment rate nudged up from 2.1 percent to 2.2 percent, official figures indicated Thursday.

Falls in the jobless rate were mainly observed in the communications, sanitary services and financing sectors, while increases were more apparent in the decoration and maintenance, retail and restaurants sectors, according to the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government.

Increases in the underemployment rate were mainly seen in the construction, and amusement and recreational services sectors, the department said.

Total employment rose by about 14,000, from 3,462,000 between February to April to 3,476,000 between March and May.

Over the same period, about 13,300 newcomers entered the labor force, taking it from 3,618,300 to a new high of 3,631,600, said the department.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)