[Archive] Creation of job opportunities in the public sector

LEGCO QUESTION NO.15

Date of sitting: 27 February 2002

Asked by: Hon CHAN Yuen-han

Replied by: SEM

Question:

Regarding the over - 30 000 job opportunities to be created in the public sector as promised in the Chief Executive's Policy Address 2001, will the Government inform this Council:

of the number of jobs created so far and the number of recruits, as well as
1. (i) the highest, lowest and median salaries of each group of these jobs as categorized by trade; and
2. (ii) the highest, lowest and median ages of each group of the recruits as categorized by trade; and
in view of the persistently high rate of unemployment among young people, whether, in creating the job opportunities concerned, the Administration will specifically design more jobs suitable for young people?

Reply:

Madam President:

In his 2001 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the plan to create over 30 000 new jobs. According to the information provided by various government bureaux and departments, 2 714 jobs, including both full-time and part-time jobs, have been created as at 31 January 2001. Of these, the recruitment procedures of 2 697 posts have already been completed. Information on salary level and age range of the new recruits are set out at Annexes I and II respectively.
Apart from the above, it is estimated that about 1 800 jobs have been created by the Works Bureau through outsourcing its works contracts. Given the complicated subcontracting system of the local construction industry, we do not have detailed information on the salary level and age range of the recruits. However, according to records of the Census and Statistics Department, the daily wages of unskilled workers are around $550 and skilled (e.g. steelbenders etc.) workers are around $1,260. The Education Department has also been creating new posts in schools through allocation of the Capacity Enhancement Grant. While it is not possible at present to confirm the actual numbers and other details of such posts created in schools, basing on past experience, we estimate that about 950 posts can be created.
(b) When government departments create new posts, the main consideration would be to meet service needs. We do not create new posts simply to employ people of a particular age group. Of the new jobs created, some do not require any working experience or special skills, while the nature of others, for example peer counsellors, may be particularly suitable for young people.
At a time when the unemployment rate is high, the lack of working experience and academic qualifications makes it more difficult for young people to seek employment. For this reason, we have been providing them with vocational training, opportunities for continuous learning and pre-employment training through various channels to enhance their competitiveness. These include the wide range of vocational training programmes run by the Vocational Training Council, the Construction Industry Training Authority and the Clothing Industry Training Authority as well as the Project Springboard, the Associate Degree programmes and other continuing education programmes offered by the tertiary institutions. For young people seeking employment, the Labour Department has launched the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme for young school leavers aged 15 to 19. The Programme provides them with appropriate pre-employment training, including on-the-job training, job search and interpersonal skills training, etc. to develop and upgrade their job skills and interpersonal skills. We will continue to improve this Programme with a view to easing the problem of youth unemployment.

Annex 1

Information on Salary Payment of Full-time Jobs Created
as at 31 January 2002

Monthly-rated Full-time Jobs

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Salary ($)	Maximum Salary ($)	Median Salary($)
Property Management Services	255	4,500	42,000	6,800
Information Technology	5	15,000	38,000	27,500
Disciplined Services	58	13,300	13,300	13,300
Sanitary Services	1 331	4,500	15,000	5,600
Medical and Health Services	156	6,000	30,800	8,500
Social Welfare Services	200	5,000	26,100	8,500
Leisure and Cultural Services	9	9,200	50,000	18,000
Public Administration	172	8,000	159,000	16,100
Others	28	7,000	60,000-70,000	7,800

Total	2 214	-	-	-

Daily-rated Full-time Jobs

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Salary ($)	Maximum Salary ($)	Median Salary($)
Sanitary Services	364	150	400	200

Information on Salary Payment of Part-time Jobs Created
as at 31 January 2002

Monthly-rated Part-time Jobs

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Salary ($)	Maximum Salary ($)	Median Salary($)
Property Management Services	5	2,400	11,000	4,000
Sanitary Services	97	2,200	9,000	3,700

	102	-	-	-

Daily-rated Part-time Jobs

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Salary ($)	Maximum Salary ($)	Median Salary($)
Sanitary Services	34	140	200	200

Annex 2

Information on Age Range of Full-time Employees Recruited
as at 31 January 2002

Full-time Employees

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Age	Maximum Age	Median Age
Property Management Services	255	22	61	45
Information Technology	5	27	36	28
Disciplined Services	58	19	27	22
Sanitary Services	1 695	17	78	44
Medical and Health Services	156	18	60	39
Social Welfare Services	200	18	50	21
Leisure and Cultural Services	9	26	50	35
Public Administration	160	18	51	26
Others	23	18	43	22

Total	2 561	-	-	-
Note: (1) Figures include monthly-rated and daily-rated full-time employees. (2) Only full-time jobs with vacancies filled are included.

Information on Age Range of Part-time Employees Recruited
as at 31 January 2002

Part-time Employees

Industry	Number of Jobs	Minimum Age	Maximum Age	Median Age
Property Management Services	5	41	51	47
Sanitary Services	131	17	70	43

Total	136	-	-	-