Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the general unemployment rate (3.0%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (4.1%) for February-April 2021 increased by 0.1 percentage point from the previous period (January-March 2021). Meanwhile, the underemployment rate held steady at 4.8%.
The labour force living in Macao totalled 394,500 and the labour force participation rate was 69.6%. Total employment was 382,500, a drop of 2,400 from the previous period; number of employed residents totalled 281,600, up by 200. Analysed by industry, employment in Wholesale & Retail Trade decreased, while that in Gaming & Junket Activities increased.
Number of the unemployed increased by 400 from the previous period to 12,000. Among the unemployed searching for a new job, most of them were previously engaged in Gaming & Junket Activities and in the Construction sector. Meanwhile, the proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job decreased by 3.1 percentage points to 5.6% of the total unemployed.
Number of the underemployed fell by 300 from the previous period to 18,900, with the majority working in Gaming & Junket Activities and in the Construction sector.
In comparison with February-April 2020, the underemployment rate and the unemployment rate increased by 2.7 and 0.8 percentage points respectively, while the labour force participation rate dropped by 0.4 percentage points.
The Employment Survey covers all residential units in the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane, excluding collective living quarters such as dormitories and care homes for the elderly. Individuals living in these units are included in the survey, and therefore Macao residents and non-resident workers who work in Macao but live outside the territory are excluded. Based on the movement records, Macao residents and non-resident workers who worked in Macao but lived outside the territory were estimated at 84,000; when including these individuals, total labour force was 478,500, a decrease of 1,400 from the previous period.