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)