Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for December 2019-February 2020 was 1.9% and the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.6%, up by 0.2 and 0.3 percentage points respectively from the previous period (November 2019-January 2020). Besides, the underemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points to 0.8%.

Total labour force was 398,400 and the labour force participation rate was 70.5%. Total employment was 390,900 and number of employed residents totalled 283,400, down by 2,200 and 1,300 respectively from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in the Construction sector and Restaurants & Similar Activities decreased.

Number of the unemployed was 7,500, an increase of 700 from the previous period. The proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job decreased by 3.9 percentage points to 10.5% of the total unemployed.

Number of the underemployed rose to 3,000 for the first time since May-July 2012, with the majority working in the Construction and Transport & Storage sectors.

In comparison with December 2018-February 2019, the unemployment rate and the underemployment rate increased by 0.2 and 0.3 percentage points respectively, while the labour force participation rate dropped by 0.3 percentage points.

As regards household employment, the average number of employed persons per household after revision was 1.7 in 2019, and the median monthly employment earnings per household was MOP 30,000; both indicators held steady compared to 2018.