HONG KONG, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The seasonally adjusted jobless rate nudged up from 4.1 percent in May-July to 4.2 percent in June- August 2007, official figures released here on Tuesday showed.

Comparing June-August with May-July, increases in the jobless rate were mainly seen in the communications, real estate and wholesale trade sectors, said the Census Statistics Department of Hong Kong.

Decreases in the underemployment rate, which held stable at 2.3 percent, were mainly seen in the foundation and superstructure construction, and communications sectors, offsetting the increases in welfare and community services, and retail trade sectors.

Total employment grew by about 10,100 from 3,494,200 in May- July to an all-time high of 3,504,300 in June-August. Over the same period, the labor force swelled by about 18,500 from 3,652, 200 to a new high of 3,670,700.

The number of unemployed, not seasonally adjusted, was up by about 8,500 from 157, 900 in May-July to 166,400 in June-August. The number of underemployed increased by around 300 - from 83,500 to 83,800, said the department.