Group 1 - The total number of employees in the private sector in Hong Kong decreased by 0.4% year-on-year, equating to a reduction of 11,300 individuals, with a total employment figure of 2,710,200 as of September 2025 [1] - The number of job vacancies in the private sector was recorded at 51,450, representing a 23% decrease or 15,010 fewer vacancies compared to the same period last year [1] - The sectors with the highest employment figures included import and export trade (342,700), professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) (314,800), financial and insurance services (238,500), retail (230,000), and food services (217,500) [1] Group 2 - The financial and insurance sector accounted for 5,860 job vacancies, while education had 5,260, professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services) had 5,120, human health services had 4,830, and accommodation and social work services had 4,230 [2] - Significant decreases in job vacancies were noted in transportation, warehousing, postal and courier services (-2,260 or -45%), food services (-1,820 or -33%), human health services (-1,760 or -27%), and arts, entertainment, recreation, and other services (-1,620 or -38%) [2] - The primary job vacancy categories in the private sector were service and sales workers (16,920), professionals (9,580), and associate professionals (9,340) [2]

Group 1 - The Business Sentiment Index (BSI) for South Korean companies is reported at 93.2 for September, indicating a pessimistic outlook as it remains below the baseline of 100 since April 2022, marking a record low [1] - The manufacturing sector's BSI is at 92.6, while the non-manufacturing sector is slightly better at 93.8, with several industries, including non-metallic materials and metal products, expected to remain sluggish [1] - The semiconductor industry has seen a significant decline, with the BSI for the "Electronics and Communication Equipment" sector dropping from 111.1 to 94.7, a decrease of 16.4 points [1] Group 2 - In the non-manufacturing sector, industries such as electricity, gas, and water (73.7), construction (83.7), and transportation and storage (95.5) are expected to continue underperforming [2] - Key economic indicators such as investment (90.6), domestic demand (91.7), and employment (93.2) are all in a low state, with the inventory index exceeding 100, indicating an oversupply [2] - A report from the Korea Chamber of Commerce highlights that 33.9% of companies cite "difficulties in financing" as their primary operational challenge, followed by tax rates (20.9%) and labor regulations (15.8%) [2] Group 3 - The decline in new business establishments in South Korea is attributed to weak consumer demand, poor restaurant industry performance, and a sluggish construction sector, with the accommodation and food services sector seeing a 14.7% year-on-year decrease [3] - The real estate sector has also experienced a 12.8% decline, while wholesale and retail sectors have contracted by 8.1% [3] - Conversely, the financial and insurance sectors have seen a 21.9% increase in new establishments, and professional and technical services have experienced a slight growth of 1.7% [3]

Core Insights - The overall business confidence among Hong Kong SMEs remains cautious despite a slight increase in the Composite Business Index to 43.8, reflecting the uncertain global economic outlook [1] - Three out of five sub-indices showed growth, specifically in "Business Conditions," "Profit Performance," and "Investment Intentions," while "Global Economy" and "Recruitment Intentions" declined [1] - The "Global Economy" sub-index fell to 24.9, nearing levels seen in Q2 2022, indicating increased challenges for Hong Kong SMEs due to global trade uncertainties [1] Investment Trends - Over 94% of surveyed Hong Kong SMEs plan to maintain or increase investments, with a focus on online marketing, e-commerce training, IT systems, R&D projects, and overall employee training [2] - The "Financial and Insurance" sector experienced the highest increase in the business index, while "Information and Communication," "Real Estate," and "Accommodation and Food Services" saw significant declines [2] Cost Expectations - The anticipated rise in material costs has slowed, with 54% of SMEs expecting increases, down three percentage points from the previous quarter [2] - The percentage of SMEs planning to raise employee salaries decreased by seven percentage points to 20%, and only 17% intend to increase product or service prices, down three percentage points [2] Future Business Strategies - Approximately 78% of SMEs have plans to adapt to current risks, primarily by increasing local customer bases and enhancing operational processes with AI/digital applications [4] - Nearly 29% of SMEs are considering expanding into other markets within the next three years, with a notable interest in mainland China and ASEAN regions [4][5] Support Initiatives - The Hong Kong Productivity Council has established "The Cradle Outbound Service Center" to provide comprehensive support for SMEs looking to expand overseas, addressing challenges in product, technology, and management exports [5]