Macao SAR, China Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Macao SAR, China's unemployment rate was 2.35% in 2025, ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 30.4% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Macao SAR, China's unemployment rate stood at 2.35% in 2025, a rise of +0.55pp from 2024. The IMF projects 1.70% by 2025. Macao SAR, China ranked 23rd globally.
Macao SAR’s unemployment rate has fallen to 2.35 % in 2025, placing it 23rd worldwide and marginally above the 2.32 % recorded in Côte d’Ivoire, a peer with a similar ranking. The indicator has traversed 35 years, descending from an all‑time peak of 6.87 % in 2000 to a trough of 1.67 % in 2014 before edging upward again in recent years. The post‑2000 decline coincided with the expansion of the gaming and tourism sectors, which absorbed large segments of the labor force, while the modest rise after 2014 reflects tighter labor market conditions amid slower growth in those industries. Compared with Japan’s 2.45 % and the Philippines’ 2.23 % in the same period, Macao’s rate remains low, suggesting continued resilience but also limited slack for further job creation. Future movements will likely hinge on diversification efforts beyond gaming and the region’s ability to attract new investment, which could either sustain the low unemployment level or reverse the recent upward drift.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 1.65% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 1.65% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 1.65% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 1.65% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 1.70% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 1.70% | - | - |
| 2025 | 2.35% | +0.55pp | #23 |
| 2024 | 2.26% | −0.39pp | #22 |
| 2023 | 2.21% | −1.47pp | #22 |
| 2022 | 2.45% | −0.50pp | #23 |
| 2021 | 2.22% | −0.33pp | #17 |
| 2020 | 2.54% | +0.82pp | #18 |
| 2019 | 1.73% | −0.07pp | #14 |
| 2018 | 1.80% | −0.17pp | #18 |
| 2017 | 1.98% | +0.08pp | #16 |
| 2016 | 1.94% | +0.11pp | #17 |
| 2015 | 1.81% | +0.11pp | #14 |
| 2014 | 1.67% | −0.18pp | #14 |
| 2013 | 1.82% | −0.18pp | #15 |
| 2012 | 1.97% | −0.61pp | #14 |
| 2011 | 2.56% | −0.27pp | #20 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Macao SAR, China matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2011. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Macao SAR, China's unemployment rate was 2.35% in 2025. Ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 30.4% increase from the previous year.
Macao SAR, China's unemployment rate peaked at 6.87% in 2000.
The lowest unemployment rate in Macao SAR, China was 1.67% in 2014.
Macao SAR, China ranks 23rd globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Macao SAR, China's unemployment rate is projected to reach 1.70% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Macao SAR, China in 2025 was 2.35%. This ranks 23rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_macao-sar-china_unemployment-rate,
title = {Macao SAR, China Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/macao-sar-china/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}