Total employment in the private sector surveyed decreased by 0.5% or 14,500 persons in March 2025 compared with a year earlier, according to the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). The total number of vacancies was 55,170, representing a decrease of 27% or 20,010 over the preceding year.In March 2025, the selected industries as a whole employed 2.7144 million persons. The import and export trade engaged 349,800 persons, followed by professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) engaging 314,000 persons, financing and insurance 232,700 persons, retail trade 230,800 persons, and food and beverage services 218,900 persons.