Macao’s unemployment rate remained steady during the first three months of 2024, decreasing 0.2 percent to 2.1 percent quarter on quarter. That’s according to the latest figures from the Statistics and Census Service (known by its Portuguese initials DSEC).
The underemployment rate also barely moved, rising by just 0.1 percent to 1.5 percent.
Macao’s labour force during the first quarter totalled 379,100 and the labour force participation rate was 67.6 percent, the DSEC says.
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Employment in real estate and business (31,700) and the construction sector (25,900) fell by 2,600 and 2,000 respectively, while the number of people employed in gaming (71,400) and hospitality (28,800) increased by 4,000 and 1,700 respectively.
Median monthly employment earnings increased by 400 patacas to 18,000 patacas, reflecting double pay and other traditional bonuses in the first quarter.
The number of the unemployed (8,000) decreased by 200 from the previous period. Most of the unemployed looking for new work were previously engaged in construction, retail and gaming. Meanwhile, the proportion of new labour market entrants looking for their first job increased by 0.3 percentage points to 6.7 percent of the total unemployed.
