Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the general unemployment rate (2.5%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (3.5%) for April-June 2020 increased by 0.1 percentage point from the previous period (March-May 2020). Meanwhile, the underemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points to 3.4%.
Total labour force was 412,000 and the labour force participation rate was 70.8%. Total employment was 401,900, an increase of 7,300 from the previous period; on the other hand, number of employed residents decreased by 800 to 279,300.
Number of the unemployed edged up by 400 from the previous period to 10,100. Among the unemployed population searching for a new job, number of those previously working in Gaming & Junket Activities and in Restaurants & Similar Activities showed relatively large growth. Meanwhile, the proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job increased by 0.4 percentage points to 5.5% of the total unemployed.
Number of the underemployed grew by 3,300 to 13,900, with the majority working in Gaming & Junket Activities, the Transport & Storage sector, the Construction sector, Retail Trade and Hotels & Similar Activities.
In the second quarter of 2020, the general unemployment rate (2.5%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (3.5%) grew by 0.4 and 0.6 percentage points respectively from the previous quarter. Total employment increased by 4,500 quarter-to-quarter whereas number of employed residents dropped by 900. Analysed by industry, employment in the Construction sector (41,000) rose by 4,500, while that in Gaming & Junket Activities (82,300) decreased by 5,200.
Median monthly employment earnings of the employed in the second quarter dropped by MOP1,000 quarter-to-quarter to MOP15,000; median earnings of those engaging in Gaming & Junket Activities and the Construction sector stood at MOP19,800 and MOP15,000 respectively. Moreover, median earnings of the employed residents remained unchanged from the previous quarter, at MOP20,000.
