Pedestrians walk along a street in Hong Kong on June 16, 2021. (ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP)

Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the last three months dropped to 4.5 percent – down 0.2 percentage points from the June-August period, according to the Census and Statistics Department. 

The underemployment rate also decreased from 2.2 percent in June-August period to 2.1 percent in three months ending in September, the department said on Thursday when it revealed the latest rolling three-month figures. 

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"The labor market improved further along with the increasingly entrenched economic recovery," Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong said while commenting on the latest unemployment figures. 

The Consumption Voucher Scheme should continue to render support to consumption-related activities in the near term.

Dr Law Chi-kwong,  Secretary for Labour and Welfare 

Total employment rose by around 6,300 to 3,658,000 in the July-September period. The labor force in July-September was 3,838,600, about the same as that in the June-August period. The number of unemployed persons decreased by around 7,100 to 180,600 in the July-September period, showed the statistics. 

While most major economic sectors saw a drop in both the unemployment rate and underemployment rate, more distinct decreases were seen in the decoration, repair and maintenance for buildings sector; professional and business services sector (excluding cleaning and similar activities); and arts, entertainment and recreation sector. 

The unemployment rate for the consumption- and tourism-related sectors combined fell by 0.2 percentage points to 7.2 percent.

As to the underemployment rate, decreases were mainly seen in the construction sector; retail, accommodation and food services sector; and arts, entertainment and recreation sector. 

READ MORE: HK jobless rate falls to 5% amid sustained economic recovery 

"The labor market conditions would depend on the pace of the economic recovery," Law said, adding that Consumption Voucher Scheme should continue to render support to consumption-related activities in the near term. 

Pointing out that the global pandemic development remains a key source of uncertainty over the economic and labor market outlook, he said: “The community should stay vigilant against the COVID-19 epidemic and strive towards more widespread vaccination. The government will continue to monitor the situation closely."