Upbeat retail sector needs sales staff
Promising a vibrant job market, Hong Kong retail sales continue to show healthy growth, thanks to strong local consumption, steady inbound tourism and good business across different types of retail sectors.
Year on year, retail sales appear to be on the rise.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, retail sales in October and November last year were about $15.9 billion and $15.2 billion respectively.
These figures represent an increase of 8.6 per cent in value or 7.2 per cent in volume in October, and a rise of 7.3 per cent in value or 6.8 per cent in volume in November over the previous year.
The increase for the first 11 months of last year was 11.1 per cent in value or 9.2 per cent in volume over the same period in 2003.
Lai Kam-tong, vice-president of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, forecast job opportunities in the retail sector would increase this year.
He said there was a strong demand for talented salespeople skilled in serving the high-end market. 'High-end retail shops are fighting for talent.'
Mr Lai listed various brand-name and jewellery enterprises that would require competent staff who could speak Cantonese, Putonghua and English and who had product training.
But he said while shops would need more people, salaries were not expected to rise significantly.
