The Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released results of the Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2011, of which principal indicators such as the labour force participation rate (71.6%) and unemployment rate (2.7%) were published in July. Total labour force was 338,000 in the second quarter of 2011, comprising 329,000 employed and 9,000 unemployed. Compared with the first quarter of 2011, total labour force registered an increase of 3,800, with number of the employed and the unemployed rising by 3,700 and 100 respectively. Analyzed by industry, the majority of the employed were engaging in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services (24.6%), as well as Wholesale & Retail Trade (13.6%). In terms of occupation, Clerks (including croupiers, floorpersons, betting service operators, etc.) and Service & Sales Workers accounted for 26.2% and 23.7% of the total respectively. Median monthly employment earnings of both the employed (MOP9,600) and the local residents (MOP10,000) held stable as the first quarter of 2011. Number of the underemployed totalled 4,200, with 68.2% engaging in Construction and 10.8% in Transport, Storage & Communications. In respect of the unemployed, 92.6% were searching for a new job and 7.4% were fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job. With regard to educational attainment, 28.2% had primary education or lower, 37.4% had junior secondary education and 22.7% had senior secondary education. For the unemployed that were searching for a new job, analyzed by industry previously engaged, 22.4% had worked in Recreational, Cultural, Gaming & Other Services and 21.6% in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities. Analyzed by previous occupation, 27.8% were Service & Sales Workers and 25.8% were Clerks.
