Macau Unemployment Holds at 1.7%

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%.

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%.

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%).