Macau residents' unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point to 5.5 percent in June-August from the previous employment survey period of May-July, the Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC) has announced.
According to a DSEC statement yesterday, Macau's general unemployment rate – which comprises residents and non-resident workers (colloquially known as blue-card holders) – increased 0.2 percentage points to 4.3 percent.
The statement attributed both increases to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy and the rising number of fresh graduates entering the labour market.
Macau's underemployment rate rose 3.1 percentage points to 16.5 percent.
The number of the unemployed rose by 700 from the previous survey period to 16,300. Among those looking for a new job, most worked previously in the gaming and junket sector and the construction industry.
The number of the underemployed grew by 12,000 from the previous period to 62,000, most of them working in the gaming and junket sector, hotels, restaurants, and retail.
In comparison with June-August last year, the underemployment and unemployment rates increased 12.8 percent and 1.5 percent respectively.
