Macau labour market holds steady
The latest data shows unemployment remains stable.
Macau.- According to the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), Macau’s unemployment rate for March to May 2025 held steady. The general rate was 1.9 per cent and the rate for local residents 2.5 per cent. Both figures are unchanged from the previous period and consistent with the same period last year.
The city’s labour force stood at 380,200, a slight decrease of 400 compared to February to April. Total employment dipped by 200 to 373,000 while the number of employed residents rose by 300 to 282,200.
The number of unemployed residents remained at 7,200, with most having previously worked in the gaming, construction, and retail sectors. The proportion of first-time job seekers declined to 8.4 per cent, down 1.8 points from the previous period.
Underemployment rose slightly, with the general rate climbing to 1.6 per cent and that of local residents reaching 2.1 per cent. Around 6,000 residents were underemployed, mainly in construction and real estate-related services. Industry-specific data showed minor declines in gaming employment.
There remain concerns that the closure of satellite casinos by the end of the year will increase unemployment levels, but the move has yet to have any impact.
