According to the Statistics Department of the HKSAR government, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Hong Kong from January to March 2022 was 5%, a significant increase of 0.5 percentage points over December 2021 to February 2022; The underemployment rate rose 0.8 percentage points to 3.1%. The total employment decreased by about 54000 to 3.6105 million, and the total working population decreased by about 27100 to 3.799 million. The number of unemployed increased by about 26900 to 188500, and the number of underemployed increased by about 89200 to 117000. Compared with December 2021 to February 2022, the unemployment rate and underemployment rate in almost all major economic sectors increased from January to March 2022. The unemployment rate in the construction, retail, accommodation and catering services and the arts, entertainment and recreational activities industries increased relatively significantly. As for the underemployment rate, the increase was mainly seen in the catering service activities industry and the arts, entertainment and recreational activities industry. Luo Zhiguang, director of the labour and Welfare Bureau of the SAR government, said that under the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Hong Kong labour market was under serious pressure. Looking ahead, Luo Zhiguang said that the labor market will continue to be under pressure in the short term, but with the recent easing of the local epidemic and a new round of issuance of consumer vouchers, the business of consumer related industries should be gradually improved, so as to help employment. In addition, the SAR government has launched a number of relief measures to support enterprises and protect employees' employment, including the upcoming "employment guarantee in 2022" plan. He called on all sectors of the community to work together to support the fight against the epidemic, with a view to bringing the local epidemic under control as soon as possible. (Xinhua News Agency)