Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the unemployment rate (2.0%) and the underemployment rate (0.4%) for April-June 2017 remained stable as in the previous period (March-May 2017). The unemployment rate of local residents was 2.7%, up by 0.1 percentage point.

Total labour force was 390,200 and the labour force participation rate stood at 71.2%. Total employment was 382,300 and employed residents totalled 281,000, up by 500 and 600 respectively from the previous period. Number of the unemployed was 7,900, up by 300; fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 10.8% of the total unemployed, up by 2.3 percentage points.

In the second quarter of 2017, the general unemployment rate (2.0%) remained unchanged as in the previous quarter, while the unemployment rate of local residents (2.7%) decreased by 0.1 percentage point. Total employment increased by 2,800 quarter-to-quarter, with employed residents aged 25-34 rising by 2,100. Analysed by industry, employment in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities (55,400) went up by 1,600 quarter-to-quarter, while that in Wholesale & Retail Trade (46,900) dropped by 500.

Median monthly employment earnings of the employed in the second quarter held stable as in the previous quarter, at MOP15,000 in the second quarter, with those engaging in Gaming & Junket Activities and Construction earning MOP19,000 and MOP15,000 respectively. Moreover, median earnings of the employed residents dropped by MOP1,000 quarter-to-quarter to MOP18,000, as seasonal effects of double pay, bonuses, etc., in the first quarter receded.