Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for June-August 2021 was 2.8% and the unemployment rate of local residents was 3.7%, down by 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points respectively from the previous period (May-July 2021). Meanwhile, the underemployment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 3.7%.
The labour force living in Macao totalled 387,000 and the labour force participation rate was 68.5%. Total employment was 376,300 and the number of employed residents totalled 279,600, up by 3,400 and 4,600 respectively from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in Gaming & Junket Activities and Restaurants & Similar Activities increased, while that in Wholesale & Retail Trade decreased.
Number of the unemployed decreased by 400 from the previous period to 10,600. Among the unemployed searching for a new job, most of them were previously engaged in Gaming & Junket Activities and in the Construction sector. Meanwhile, with fresh graduates entering the labour market, the proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job increased by 3.3 percentage points to 12.5% of the total unemployed.
Number of the underemployed rose by 1,000 from the previous period to 14,400, with the majority working in Gaming & Junket Activities and in the Construction sector.
In comparison with June-August 2020, both the unemployment rate and underemployment rate remained constant, while the labour force participation rate dropped by 1.7 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, an average of about 83,900 Macao residents and non-resident workers worked in Macao but lived outside the territory during the reference period; when including these individuals, total labour force was 470,900, an increase of 4,000 from the previous period.