Macau saw 71,400 people employed in the gaming and junket industry in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of around 4,000 from the previous quarter, according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).
The overall unemployment rate in 1Q24 was 2.1%, while the unemployment rate for local residents was 2.7%, both dropping by 0.2 percentage points quarter-on-quarter, while the underemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 1.5%.
The underemployment rate edged up by 0.1 percentage point to 1.5%, while median monthly earnings of the total employed population in the quarter was MOP$18,000, up MOP$400. That of local employed residents was MOP$20,500, representing a quarter-on-quarter increase of MOP$500.
DSEC pointed out that the rise in median earnings was mainly due to the impact of double pay and bonuses paid by some industries in the first quarter.
In January, Macau’s six concessionaires announced special bonuses equivalent to one month’s salary for their employees, as well as pay rises for some staff.
The number of unemployed people in the first quarter was around 8,000, a decrease of 200 quarter-on-quarter. Among the unemployed looking for new jobs, the construction, retail and gaming and junket industries accounted for the majority.