Total private-sector employment rose 2.4 percent year-on-year in December of 2013, or by 62,900 people, Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department announced Friday. Employment increases were recorded 13.4 percent in the construction sites, 6.3 percent in accommodation services, 6.2 percent in information and communications, 5.9 percent in professional and business services, and 4.9 percent in human health services sectors. Vacancies increased 11 percent which amounted to 72,380. Of those vacancies, 13,710 were in the food and beverage services, 8, 310 in the retail, 7,240 in the import-export, 6,990 in the professional and business services (excluding cleaning and similar services), and 6,530 in the arts, entertainment, recreation and other services sectors.