Unemployment rate in Macao rose in recent months

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-29 20:20

MACAO -- Macao's unemployment rate for the period of June to August this year rose by 0.1 percentage point over the May-to-July period to three percent, according to the figures Monday released by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

Despite a period-to-period increase, the unemployment rate between June and August dropped by 0.1 percentage point year-on- year, while underemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous period, at 1.6 percent, but up by 0.5 percentage point year-on-year, the DSEC said.

The figures also showed that total labour force for the period totaled 337,000, with labour force participation rate standing at 70.9 percent, up by 0.2 and 0.9 percentage point respectively from the previous period and the corresponding period of last year.

With more fresh graduates and school leavers entering the labour market, the number of the unemployed rose by about 300 over the preceding period to 10,000. Among them, 19.5 percent (2,000) were searching for their first job, up by 6.6 percentage points over the previous period, the DSEC said.

Meanwhile, the employed population rose by 2,600 over the previous period to 327,000, with increases in the number of persons working in the Construction sector, Real Estate and Business Activities and Domestic Help, but decreases in the Hotel Industry and Retail Trade, according to the figures.