Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that both the general unemployment rate (2.9%) and the unemployment rate of local residents (4.1%) for August-October 2020 held steady from the previous period (July-September 2020). The underemployment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points to 5.2%, while the labour force participation rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 70.0%.

There were 398,900 people in the labour force. When including the number of Macao residents and non-resident workers who worked in Macao but lived outside the territory, total labour force was 481,000, down by 900 from the previous period.

Number of employed persons living in Macao decreased by 4,700 from the previous period to 387,100, on account of a drop in number of non-resident workers living in Macao. Number of employed residents totalled 277,300, down by 200. Analysed by industry, number of employed persons in Gaming & Junket Activities and Hotels & Similar Activities decreased, while those working in the Transport & Storage sector increased.

Number of the unemployed fell by 100 from the previous period to 11,700. Among the unemployed population searching for a new job, most of them were previously engaged in Gaming & Junket Activities and Retail Trade. Meanwhile, the proportion of new labour market entrants seeking their first job increased by 0.6 percentage points to 18.0% of the total unemployed.

Number of the underemployed rose by 1,800 to 20,800, with the majority working in Gaming & Junket Activities and Hotels & Similar Activities.

In comparison with August-October 2019, the underemployment rate and the unemployment rate increased by 4.7 and 1.1 percentage points respectively, while the labour force participation rate dropped by 0.1 percentage point.