Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up from 3.1 percent in the November 2024 to January 2025 period to 3.2 percent in the three months from December, according to official data released on Tuesday.

The underemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.1 percent during the two periods, data from the Census and Statics Department showed.

Relatively notable increases in the unemployment rate were observed in the food and beverage service activities, transportation, construction, and professional and business services sectors, said the department.

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It said the number of unemployed persons increased by around 1,600 during the December-February period, bringing the total number to 111,700. The number of underemployed persons decreased by around 2,300 to 40,700

Total employment decreased by around 7,100 to 3,709,500 while the city’s labor force also decreased by around 5,400 to 3,821,300, it added.

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Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.2 percent although it edged up by 0.1 percentage point.

"The labor market should remain largely stable in the near term amidst continued economic expansion, though some businesses would be affected by the uncertainties stemming from the United States' trade protection measures," Sun said.