Economists believe that when new unemployment figures are announced today they will show a drop of 0.2 per cent at the most, despite the buoyant economy.
Chinese University assistant professor Terence Chong Tai-leung said a repeat of last month's dip in the rate, which fell unexpectedly by 0.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent for the three months to January, was unlikely.
'I don't think we will see the rate dropping by more than 0.2 per cent because, from past experience, it is rare for the rate to fall [like that] two months in a row,' he said.
He expected the rate to continue falling steadily until October when the impact of school-leavers will begin to kick in.
Professor Ho Lok-sang, president of the Hong Kong Economic Association, gave a similar prediction.
'The strong showing of the retail sales volume for the month of January is perhaps the first clearest indication the economy has begun to pick up. We can be more positive in our forecast of the jobless rate because the two indicators are linked.' According to official figures, retail sales volume in January, estimated at $17.6 billion, rose by 12 per cent compared with same period last year.