Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for August-October 2019 held steady over the previous period (July-September 2019), at 1.8%; the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.4%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate was 0.5%, up by 0.1 percentage point.

Total labour force was 394,300 and the labour force participation rate was 70.1%. Total employment was 387,300, an increase of 200 from the previous period; number of employed residents totalled 280,800, down by 300. Analysed by industry, employment in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities decreased while that in Gaming & Junket Activities increased.

Number of the unemployed was 7,000, down by 300 from the previous period. The proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job decreased by 2.5 percentage points to 18.5% of the total unemployed.

In comparison with August-October 2018, the unemployment rate stayed steady; meanwhile, the labour force participation rate dropped by 0.7 percentage points while the underemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point.