Macao's workforce reached 265,800 in the first quarter, rising
by 7,000 over the fourth quarter of 2005, according to official
statistics issued on Monday.
The figures released by the government-run Statistics and Census
Service showed that the number of unemployed residents stood at
10,400 in the first quarter, representing a jobless rate of 3.9
percent, the lowest ever since 1997.
Male residents dominated 52.6 percent of the total employed
population in the quarter, the figures showed.
The statistics displayed that 17.2 percent of the employed
population worked in entertainment, gaming and other service
industries, an illustrator of the region's entertainment-oriented
economy.
The average monthly earnings amounted to 5,992 patacas (US$749),
a year-on-year rise of 5.49 percent, according to the
statistics.
The special administrative region has a population of above
480,000.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)
