Hong Kong's unemployment rate jumps to highest level in 15 years

Government to ease social-distancing measures to help bolster sagging economy

"We hope the economic recession, and our unemployment rate, will not be worse than in 2003 during the SARS period," Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday, ahead the release of the jobless report. © AP

MICHELLE CHAN, Nikkei staff writer

June 16, 2020 20:08 JST

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong's jobless rate surged to 5.9% in the three months ending May 31, surpassing the 5.5% peak during the global financial crisis in 2009 and marking the highest level since 2005 in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak.

The unemployment rate for the March-to-May period compares with 5.2% for the previous three months, the government said on Tuesday.