Macau’s general unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points year-on-year to 2.1% between January and March 2020, while the local unemployment rate rose by 0.6 percentage points to 2.9% under the strain of COVID-19.
This is the first time the general unemployment rate has risen above 2% since 2012, according to the Statistics and Census Service Bureau, with the number of the unemployed increasing to 8,500.
Employment in the wholesale and retail trade rose by 5,700 to 49,300 people, but in fell by 5,200 to 50,700 in hotels and restaurants.
Median monthly employment earnings in the first quarter dropped by MOP$1,000 quarter-to-quarter to MOP$ 16,000, although those engaging in gaming and junket activities earned an average of MOP$20,000.
