Macao's unemployment rate for the whole of 2008 stood at three percent, down by 0.1 percentage point over 2007, according to the latest figures released on Tuesday by the city's Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The figure for the fourth quarter of last year stood at 3.3 percent, and the underemployment rate reached 1.7 percent.

In the fourth quarter, total labor force was 337,000 in the period, with the labor force participation rate standing at 70.7 percent. Among the unemployed, 17.2 percent were searching for their first job, down by 3.3 percentage points over the previous period between September and November 2008.

Analyzed by industry, the decrease in the number of the employed was more noticeable in the sectors of construction and recreational, cultural, gaming and other services in the period between October and December, the DSEC said.

In addition, the unemployment rate of local residents (excluding non-resident workers) stood at four percent in the fourth quarter and the respective labor force participation rate was 64.7 percent, according to the DSEC figures.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)