Number of job vacancies in Macao's four major sectors registered significant year-on-year decreases in the third quarter of 2008, according to the survey results released on Wednesday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The results showed that local Manufacturing sector reported to have 1,822 vacancies, Hotels and restaurants had 4,020; the Financial sector had 179 and Electricity, gas and water supply had 11, down by 39.4 percent, 46.6 percent, 25.4 percent and 62.1 percent year-on-year respectively.

The survey results were extrapolated according to the information collected from 582 statistical units successfully interviewed, the DSEC said.

Meanwhile, the average earnings for the employees in these four sectors all recorded increases.

In September, the average earnings (excluding bonuses and allowances) for full-time employees in the Manufacturing, Hotels and restaurants, Financial, and Electricity, gas and water sector rose by eight percent, 10.8 percent, 12.4 percent, 6.5 percent year-on-year respectively, according to the survey results.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2008)