DSAL says local employment remains stable amid labor challenges

The series of measures promoted by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), aimed at reducing the unemployment rate and promoting the career advancement of local workers, has proven effective, DSAL officials noted during yesterday’s press conference to reveal employment data and figures on the number of non-resident workers.

Addressing the matter, acting chief of the Employment Departmen Chan Ka In noted that Macau’s job market remains stable and that the job-matching, vocational training, and employment support measures promoted by DSAL have been effective.

The same official remarked that, in light of the upcoming graduation season and the transformation of the industrial structure, DSAL would pay special attention to supporting young people in gaining experience and enhancing their competitiveness, with a view to ensuring employment stability and their long-term development.

At the same press conference, DSAL clarified that, with regard to last year, the bureau provided support for residents in job matching, with 11,584 successful cases; according to a follow-up survey, around 80% are still employed.

Among these workers helped by DSAL, 54% were under 34, while another 36% were between 35 and 56 years old.

DSAL also noted that this figure includes all services provided by the bureau, both online and in person.

As for the job-matching session held with the gaming concessionaires, DSAL noted that it had hosted 42 sessions in 2025, resulting in the employment of 6,586 people, while another 2,165 people found jobs through the DSAL service under the Macao One Account.

Additionally, 776 people found jobs through weekly job-matching sessions, mostly in the food and beverage sector and retail trade.

40% of job seekersin Q1 already employed

When revealing the figures for those supported by DSAL in finding jobs in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, the bureau noted that 40% of those candidates registered for job-matching sessions were residents currently employed.

When questioned by the Times about this, DSAL deputy director Chan Tze Wai explained that many residents, despite being employed, are still seeking opportunities for career advancement, better career paths, and improved working conditions, which helps explain why a high percentage of people who are currently employed are still applying for job-matching sessions.

Addressing the topic, she followed up on previous statements by former Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, stating that local job seekers often have ambitions that do not match the current reality of the job market, making it difficult to find them jobs.

“In DSAL’s job-matching process, we have noticed that many people also have a mindset of choosing a job before they are hired. Many residents also want to find a job that offers career advancement. They tend to seek administrative and management roles. But the problem lies in the structure of the company’s job positions. They do not always align with residents’ expectations. Many jobs are in the hospitality industry, gaming concessionaires, and retail, in line with Macau’s economy [and are not office jobs],” she said.

“Furthermore, many positions require standing for long periods, or some physical work. These conditions are not always welcome among residents.”

Chan Tze Wai noted that, in most cases, local residents prefer more comfortable jobs, such as office or administrative and managerial positions, which are often unavailable due to Macau’s economic structure.

The same official urged local workers to “first get a job and then choose a career path” as they gain experience and other job posts become within reach.

“There are many non-administrative jobs that pay well. For example, there are well-paying positions for facility managers, butlers, and hotel staff. Still, these jobs require specific technical skills and also specific professional experience, which makes them difficult to fill with local workers,” she remarked.

“As we previously mentioned, as qualifications improve, residents’ job prospects will also improve,” she concluded, reaffirming the need for local workers to rethink their strategy and consider applying for entry-level jobs and to grow from there.

Regarding Q1 figures, DSAL noted that the local unemployment rate was 2.1%, the lowest since records began for a quarter-on-quarter analysis.

DSAL also remarked that in Q1 of this year, the percentage of fresh graduates seeking their first job had significantly decreased compared to Q3 of 2025 (from 18.3% to 6.3%).

A key factor in this drop is that, in Q3 (July to September), there is always a significant influx of new job seekers, as these months follow the graduation season, and accurate results can only be compared after Q3 of this year.

Over 3,600 new graduates expected to flood market

According to a forecast presented by DSAL, as the graduation season approaches, 3,640 new graduates from both local and overseas universities will enter the job market, posing additional challenges for the job market.

While DSAL is unsure how many of these graduates will opt to find a job, continue their studies, or pursue some form of entrepreneurship, there are concerns, as their data show that the majority of these residents are taking college courses in the fields of the humanities and business.

The bureau noted that they were particularly concerned about the fact that over 50% of those students have been studying abroad and so “might have a lack of knowledge regarding current market trends and recruitment practices of local companies, among other factors,” they said.

Questioned by the Times on the average time that local graduates usually need to wait until they find a job placement, Chan Tze Wai said that in 80% of the cases, graduates can find a job placement in about four months.

DSAL list of open job vacancies, including positions and salary details [ Photo: Renato Marques]

MOP10,000 is the new baseline for locals

DSAL noted that more than 6,000 job offers are currently available for local workers to apply for via the Macao One Account.

As reviewed by the Times reporter on-site at DSAL headquarters, the vast majority of the job posts are for retail salespeople.

In common, all the job posts offer similar conditions, with wages ranging from MOP10,000 to MOP10,500.

A large number of these jobs are posted by international fashion and sports brands and luxury fashion and accessories stores, which require workers to possess a wide range of skills, including excellent proficiency in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, among others.

The wage offer is well below the median monthly income for residents – by about 50% – which, according to official data, is approximately MOP20,000.