Hong Kong’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 3.9 percent in the July-September period to 3.8 percent during the August-October period, official data showed on Tuesday.

The underemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.6 percent in the two periods, according to the latest labor force statistics by the Census and Statistics Department.

“Over the same period, the labor force and total employment decreased slightly, while the number of unemployed persons also decreased,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said while commenting on the latest unemployment figures.

Comparing the two periods, the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) fell in many major economic sectors, with more distinct decreases observed in the retail, accommodation and food services sector; professional and business services sector; foundation and superstructure sector; and financing sector.

Movements in the underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but the magnitudes were generally not large, the data showed.

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Total employment decreased by around 1,800 from 3,674,500 during the July-September period to 3,672,700 in August-October. Over the same period, the labor force also decreased by around 7,800 from 3,830,100 to 3,822,300.

“The solid expansion of the Hong Kong economy, along with the steadfast improvement in business sentiment and the gradual recovery in consumption confidence, should provide support to the labor market,” the labor chief said while talking about the situation in the near future.

The employment situations of some sectors would continue to face challenges from economic restructuring, he added.

The survey for the August-October period covered a sample of some 26,000 households or 68,000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong.