Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that the general unemployment rate for August-October 2017 was 1.9%, and the unemployment rate of local residents was 2.6%; meanwhile, the underemployment rate was 0.5%. All the three indicators dropped by 0.1 percentage point from the previous period (July-September 2017).

Total labour force was 387,200 and the labour force participation rate stood at 70.8%. Total employment was 379,800 and employed residents totalled 279,900, down by 1,400 and 1,300 respectively from the previous period. Analysed by industry, employment in Gaming & Junket Activities registered an increase, while that in Hotels, Restaurants & Similar Activities and Wholesale & Retail showed decreases.

Number of the unemployed was 7,400, down by 300 from the previous period. Fresh labour force entrants searching for their first job accounted for 14.8% of the total unemployed, the same proportion as in the previous period.

In comparison with August-October 2016, the unemployment rate stayed unchanged, while the labour force participation rate and the underemployment rate dropped by 1.5 and 0.2 percentage point respectively.