A survey result released on Thursday by Macao SAR's Statistics and Census Service showed that the unemployment rate for the period of November 2007 to January 2008 stood at 2.9 percent.

According to the survey, the unemployment rate remained stable during the period, and among the 9,500 unemployed, 1,100 were searching for their first job, taking up 12 percent of the total unemployed.

Macao's total labor force was estimated at 324,000, with a labor force participation rate of 70.3 percent, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, the employed population reached 314,000, thanks to an increase in the number of the employed in industries including recreational, cultural, gaming, transport, storage and communications.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2008)