Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Chan Un Tong announced yesterday that in the first three quarters of this year, his bureau assisted 8,535 residents in finding employment, with young people aged 34 or under accounting for 52 per cent.
The bureau held a press conference yesterday at its headquarters in Areia Preta district to present job matching data for the first three quarters, along with youth employment support measures.
From January to September this year, the bureau assisted 8,535 residents in finding employment through both online and offline channels, Chan said, adding that of these, young people aged 34 or under accounted for 52 per cent, while those aged 35 to 54 accounted for 39 per cent.
In the first three quarters, Chan said, the bureau launched 30 dedicated “Employment + Training” schemes, helping 303 people secure jobs. A total of 35 schemes are expected to be launched over the full year, offering approximately 600 positions, Chan noted.
Regarding youth support, Chan pointed out that this year’s internship programme offers 850 placements, while 14 Chinese mainland internship programmes offer 255 placements. A total of 210 young people have already gone to the Chinese mainland to undertake internships at various enterprises, Chan said.
In the fourth quarter, Chan pledged that the bureau will launch an AI practical training programme, a large-scale cultural and sports industry talent development programme, and the second phase of the Hengqin Film and Television City study programme. From November 3, the “Macao One Account” job-seeking service will add a new section for job vacancies in the Hengqin In-Depth Cooperation Zone, according to Chan.
It was also announced at the press conference that the bureau will launch the official version of the “Integrated Vocational Training Platform”. The trial version of the platform has been running for about a year, attracting over 5,000 registered users and making more than 800 training and certification courses available.
The official version adds a new “demand-driven training” feature. The first batch will see five large enterprises and public utilities offer 38 positions, covering areas such as high-end services, risk monitoring, telecommunications, power, and audio-visual technology. Applications will open in November. Trainees will receive an allowance of 5,000 patacas during the training period. Those who complete the course and pass the assessment will be given priority job interview opportunities, and the bureau will also work with the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) commonly known as Gong Luen to provide occupational competence training, according to the press conference.
In terms of job matching, 84 industry-specific job matching sessions and 34 integrated resort job matching sessions were held in the first nine months of the year, successfully matching over 5,000 person-times in total, with over 1,700 person-times matched through the online platform.
Regarding non-resident worker (NRW) data, at the end of last month, Macau had 6,460 skilled NRWs, 148,848 unskilled NRWs, and 29,526 NRWs working as domestic helpers. The increase was mainly concentrated in the construction sector, driven by the continued progress of public works and major infrastructure projects. The bureau reaffirmed that non-resident workers serve only to supplement shortages in the local labour force, and that it will maintain strict controls to ensure local residents are prioritised in employment.
Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Director Chan Un Tong speaks during yesterday’s press conference held at the bureau’s headquarters in Areia Preta district. – Photo: Armindo Neves
