Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for September-November 2020 held steady over the previous period (August-October 2020), at 2.9%; the unemployment rate of local residents was 4.0%, down by 0.1 percentage point. Meanwhile, the underemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.4%.
The labour force living in Macao totalled 397,800 and the labour force participation rate was 70.0%. Total employment was 386,200, a decrease of 900 from the previous period; number of employed residents totalled 278,300, up by 1,000. Analysed by industry, employment in Restaurants & Similar Activities and the Construction sector decreased, while that in Retail Trade increased.
Number of the unemployed fell by 100 from the previous period to 11,600. Among the unemployed population searching for a new job, most of them were previously engaged in Gaming & Junket Activities and the Construction sector. Meanwhile, the proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job decreased by 3.4 percentage points to 14.6% of the total unemployed.
Number of the underemployed rose by 600 to 21,400, with the majority working in Gaming & Junket Activities and the Transport & Storage sector.
In comparison with September-November 2019, the underemployment rate, the unemployment rate and the labour force participation rate increased by 4.9, 1.2 and 0.1 percentage points respectively.
The Employment Survey covers all living quarters in the Macao Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane, excluding collective living quarters such as dormitory and home for the elderly, etc. The statistical units are individuals living in these quarters and therefore Macao residents and non-resident workers who work in Macao but live outside the territory are not included. Based on the immigration records, Macao residents and non-resident workers who worked in Macao but lived outside the territory were estimated at 82,500; when including these individuals, total labour force was 480,300, a decrease of 700 from the previous period.
