Gov’t launches new working group to boost local employment opportunities

The Macau government has launched a raft of proactive employment support measures, including the establishment of a working group, to enhance efforts to address job opportunities for residents, especially young people.

As approved by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai on Wednesday, the working group was established under the name “employment coordination,” chaired by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai.

Its members include representatives from the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), and other relevant functional entities.

“To implement the Special Administrative Region government’s administration philosophy of ‘putting people first,’ the chief executive approved the establishment of the ‘employment promotion coordination working group’ on May 28, 2025.

The working group will be led by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, who will coordinate cross-departmental resources to comprehensively advance efforts for local residents’ employment security,” said Tai’s office.

The statement outlines the main responsibilities of the working group.

These include conducting scientific studies to understand human resources trends; gathering and researching information about the local job market’s supply and demand; creating policies aimed at promoting employment for local residents; and regularly assessing how effective these employment initiatives are.

Additionally, the working group has the flexibility to form special task forces when necessary and can invite representatives from relevant entities to participate in meetings or contribute their insights.

Following the announcement of the working group’s establishment, Tai’s office issued a separate statement indicating that the secretary had held two policy exchange meetings on Tuesday to discuss measures related to industrial development and resident employment, with around 40 representatives from community organizations and businesses in attendance.

During the meeting on “Supporting Resident Employment Development,” Tai emphasized, as quoted by the statement, the government’s commitment to local resident employment and development, highlighting multiple policy measures to strengthen employment support services.

Notably, there is an active effort to establish a comprehensive vocational training platform that collaborates with demand-side entities to enhance the integration and optimization of vocational training, helping residents improve their employment competitiveness and facilitating upward or lateral mobility for high-quality, diversified employment.

Participants reportedly offered “a number of constructive opinions and suggestions,” including strengthening career planning for young people, optimizing vocational training types and tiers, improving employment information in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and enhancing measures to encourage young people to pursue internships, practical training, or employment in mainland China.

Journalists can only transcribe the content of these meetings based on the press release.

Yesterday, several listeners called into the public broadcaster TDM radio program to question the government about the establishment of the working group, asking, “Why is a working group needed for these tasks? Haven’t they been done before?” One listener highlighted the poor current economic and employment environment, mentioning friends who have recently lost their jobs and are struggling to find work.

Despite sending resumes to various institutions, they often receive no responses or only offers for insurance-related positions. Another listener noted that several friends who graduated three or four years ago have yet to secure formal, long-term employment. He also pointed out that language graduates are facing similar challenges.

Some opinions expressed concerns about the research staff at local universities, questioning the presence of non-local residents and the newly established group’s effectiveness in addressing local employment issues.

While there is some hope for the government’s employment promotion group, doubts remain regarding the authorities’ commitment to promoting appropriate economic diversification.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Legislative Assembly’s Follow Committee for Public Finance Affairs held a meeting to discuss follow-up measures on labor policies and the importation of non-local workers.

Zheng Anting, who chairs the committee, told the media afterward that the committee is concerned about public attention regarding non-local worker recruitment in Macau. While the current unemployment rate is relatively low, some young people have reported difficulties in finding jobs.

During the meeting, several legislators raised concerns about the number of non-local workers being recruited, the alignment of targeted investment industries with the educational backgrounds and professional fields of local talent, and the distribution of non-local workers across various industries.