The overall unemployment rate in Macau was 2.2% from November 2023 to January 2024.

On February 27, the Statistics and Census Bureau of Macau, China released the employment survey for November 2023 to January 2024. The data shows that the overall unemployment rate in Macau from November 2023 to January 2024 was 2.2%, with the unemployment rate for local residents in Macau at 2.8%. Both rates decreased by 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous period (October to December 2023), and have returned to the levels seen in early 2020. The overall underemployment rate increased slightly by 0.1 percentage point to 1.5%. There were a total of 379,100 labor force in Macau, with a labor force participation rate of 67.9%. The number of employed individuals (370,700) and local employed residents in Macau (285,500) decreased by 400 and 600 people respectively compared to the previous period. By industry, the number of employees in the construction and retail sectors decreased, while there was an increase in the gaming and gaming intermediary sector and the hotel industry. The number of unemployed individuals (8,400) decreased by 200 compared to the previous period. Among the unemployed individuals looking for new jobs, many were previously employed in the retail, gaming, gaming intermediary, and construction sectors. On the other hand, the proportion of new entrants to the labor force looking for their first job decreased by 3.0 percentage points to 9.2%. The number of underemployed individuals (5,700) increased by 500 in the previous period, with a higher number in the transportation and storage industry and construction sector. Compared to November 2022 to January 2023, the labor force participation rate, unemployment rate, and underemployment rate in Macau decreased by 0.6, 1.2, and 1.7 percentage points respectively. The scope of the employment survey covers all residential units in the Macau Peninsula, Taipa, and Coloane, but excludes collective living units such as school dormitories and nursing homes. The survey only includes individuals residing in the units, therefore it does not account for Macau residents who work in Macau but live outside the territory or foreign employees. Based on preliminary immigration data, it is estimated that there are approximately 100,700 Macau residents and foreign employees working in Macau but living outside the territory during the reference period. When including these individuals, the total labor force (479,900) increased by 300 compared to the previous period.