| Year | 1981 | 1986 | 1991 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| % | 66.30 | 65.10 | 63.50 | 61.60 | 61.30 | 61.30 | 61.30 | 61.40 |
| Year | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| % | 61.50 | 61.70 | 61.40 | 61.30 | 60.90 | 61.20 | 61.20 | 60.90 |
| Year | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| % | 60.80 | 59.60 | 60.10 | 60.50 | 61.20 | 61.10 | 61.10 | 61.10 |
| Year | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
| % | 61.10 | 61.20 |
Operational Definitions
The labour force participation rate refers to the proportion of labour force in the land-based civilian non-institutionalized persons aged 15 and over. Labour force is made up of land-based civilian non-institutionalized persons aged 15 and over who should: (a) be engaged in performing work for pay or profit during the seven days before enumeration; or (b) have formal job attachment (i.e. that the person has continued receipt of wage or salary; or has an assurance or and agreed date of return to job or business; or is in receipt of compensation without obligation to accept another job); or unemployed. For a definition of unemployed, please see 9.4.
Footnote
All figures are collected from Census and Statistics Department since 1981.
According to C&SD (25Sep2009), starting from the year 2001, annual figures derived from the General Household Survey (GHS) may be different from those in the earlier edition. For the previous edition, the annual figures are compiled based on the average data for the four quarters of the year concerned. Starting from this edition, these statistics are compiled based on data collected in the General Household Survey from January to December of the year concerned as well as mid-year population estimates.
According to C&SD (25Sep2009), starting from the year 2001, annual figures derived from the General Household Survey (GHS) may be different from those in the earlier edition. For the previous edition, the annual figures are compiled based on the average data for the four quarters of the year concerned. Starting from this edition, these statistics are compiled based on data collected in the General Household Survey from January to December of the year concerned as well as mid-year population estimates.
