The Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM, commonly known as Gung Luen) hosted a press conference yesterday at its headquarters on Rua da Ribeira do Patane to announce the findings of its latest employment survey.
The survey, titled “Macau Residents’ Employment Needs Survey”, collected over 1,200 valid questionnaires between January and August. It revealed that around 43 percent of respondents experienced difficulties in finding work.
The primary obstacle reported was an insufficient supply of vacancies and a narrow range of career options, followed by a lack of access to job information channels and a mismatch between individual skills and market requirements. Despite these challenges, the survey indicated that the majority of unemployed residents remain eager to work.
To secure employment, most respondents primarily rely on local private job websites, human resources platforms, and official local government employment portals.
Regarding career locations, over 57 percent of respondents stated they remain focused on pursuing opportunities strictly within Macau. Around 23 percent indicated they wish to remain based in Macau but are open to participating in projects in Hengqin or elsewhere in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Only 10 percent said they would actively consider moving to work or build careers in Hengqin or other GBA mainland cities.
6 recommendations
In light of the findings, Gung Luen representatives put forward six recommendations:
1. Protect Local Labour: Uphold the principle of prioritising local residents in employment, establish a dynamic monitoring system for non-resident worker data, strengthen enforcement against illegal employment, and set up targeted support for the long-term unemployed.
2. Age-Specific Assistance: Enhance career exploration and internships for young people, assist mid-career workers with job transitions and retraining, and promote flexible re-employment opportunities for older workers.
3. Update Policy Frameworks: Review and update current training and employment assistance regulations to extend support coverage to middle-aged and older residents, as well as carers returning to the workforce.
4. Targeted Skills Training: Encourage collaboration among higher education institutions, businesses, and community organisations to offer tailored training in emerging fields such as green energy and AI applications.
5. AI & Workplace Protection: Establish a dynamic monitoring mechanism to assess AI’s impact on employment, introduce mandatory workplace impact assessments for major AI rollouts, and offer tax incentives to encourage companies to adopt job-enhancing rather than job-replacing technologies.
6. Cross-Border Integration: Simplify tax declaration procedures, improve information sharing regarding social security integration, establish a professional qualification recognition platform, and launch a dedicated “Cross-Border Employment Service Centre”.
Representatives from the Macau Federation of Trade Unions ( FAOM; aka Gung Luen) look on during yesterday’s press conference at Gung Luen headquarters on Rua da Ribeira do Patane, including lawmaker Leong Sun Iok (centre). – Photo: Gung Luen
