Unemployment rate steady at 2%

Macau’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.0% from June to August 2025, according to the latest employment survey released by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The unemployment rate for local residents also held steady at 2.6%, reflecting labor market conditions that remain consistent with the previous period, May to July 2025.

While unemployment remained constant, underemployment saw a modest improvement. The general underemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 1.5%, and among local residents, it fell to 1.9%. According to DSEC, approximately 5,600 underemployed residents were primarily engaged in the Construction, Real Estate, and Business Activities sectors.

Among the 7,600 unemployed residents reported during this period, most had previously worked in Retail Trade and Construction.
Labor force participation also remained steady, with a rate of 66.4% overall and 61.1% among residents. Notably, the percentage of new labor market entrants increased by 0.8 percentage points to 14.5%.

Recently, the Times reported that Macau’s retail sector is showing cautious hiring patterns, with stable businesses opting for full-time staff even as overall demand remains subdued.

According to MSS Recruitment Executive director Jiji Tu, weaker consumer spending, online shopping trends, and currency pressures have dampened hiring momentum, though companies with steady performance continue to secure permanent staff.

Meanwhile, a report from Macao Daily News indicated that retail job openings in Macau are expected to rise by 5% in the coming months, led by luxury brands targeting high-income customers, with job postings expected to roll out from mid-September.

From June to August, the total labor force rose slightly by 300 to 487,300 individuals.
This figure combines 379,200 workers living in the city with an estimated 108,100 residents and non-resident workers who commute into Macau for work but live outside the territory, based on DSEC’s preliminary analysis of movement records.