The unemployment rate in Macau edged up to 1.8% in December 2025 from 1.7% in each of the previous two months. The number of unemployed persons rose slightly by 100 month-on-month to 6,800, while total employment increased by 400 to 379,300. Job gains were recorded in gaming, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and related services, as well as restaurants and similar activities, while the construction sector shed jobs. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 67.2%. The male participation rate inched lower to 69.2% from 69.4% in November, while the female participation rate was steady at 65.5%. source: Statistics and Census Service, Government of Macao SAR

Unemployment Rate in Macau increased to 1.80 percent in December from 1.70 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Macau averaged 3.38 percent from 1996 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 7.10 percent in June of 2000 and a record low of 1.60 percent in January of 2025. This page provides the latest reported value for - Macao Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Macau Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Macau increased to 1.80 percent in December from 1.70 percent in November of 2025. Unemployment Rate in Macau is expected to be 2.10 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Macau Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 2.30 percent in 2027 and 2.40 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2025-12-26 09:45 AM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 1.7% 1.7% 1.7%
2026-01-30 08:40 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 1.8% 1.7% 2.10%
2026-02-27 09:30 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 1.8%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 379.30 378.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 67.20 67.20 percent Dec 2025
Population 0.69 0.68 Million Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 6.80 6.70 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 1.80 1.70 percent Dec 2025
Wages 17300.00 17000.00 MOP/Monthly Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 12000.00 12000.00 MOP/Monthly Sep 2025


Macau Unemployment Rate
In Macau, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1.80 1.70 7.10 1.60 1996 - 2025 percent Monthly

News Stream
Macau Unemployment Rate Ticks Up to 1.8% in December
The unemployment rate in Macau edged up to 1.8% in December 2025 from 1.7% in each of the previous two months. The number of unemployed persons rose slightly by 100 month-on-month to 6,800, while total employment increased by 400 to 379,300. Job gains were recorded in gaming, wholesale and retail trade, hotels and related services, as well as restaurants and similar activities, while the construction sector shed jobs. The labor force participation rate remained unchanged at 67.2%. The male participation rate inched lower to 69.2% from 69.4% in November, while the female participation rate was steady at 65.5%.
2026-01-30
Macau Unemployment Holds at 1.7%
The unemployment rate in Macau remained steady at 1.7% in November 2025, holding the lowest level since January. The number of unemployed was stable at 6,700, while total employment rose by 2,100 to 378,900. Most jobseekers had previously been employed in the retail trade and the Gaming sectors. The share of first-time jobseekers among the unemployed ticked up 0.5 percentage points to 14.4%. The labor force participation rate increased to 67.2% from 67.0% in October, driven by a higher female participation rate (65.5% vs 64.9%), while the male participation rate slipped slightly to 69.4% from 69.7%.
2025-12-26
Macau Unemployment Falls to Lowest Since January
The unemployment rate in Macau edged down to 1.7% in October 2025 from1.8% in September, marking the lowest level since January this year. The number of unemployed declining by 200 month-on-month to 6,700, while total employment rose by 1,500 to 376,800. Most jobseekers had previously been employed in the retail trade and construction sectors. The share of new labor market entrants seeking their first job fell 4.4 percentage points to 13.9% of the unemployed residents. The labor force participation rate increased to 67.0% from 66.8% in September, driven by a rise in female participation (64.9% vs 63.9%), while the male participation rate edged lower (69.7% vs 70.2%).
2025-11-28