Macao saw a 3.9 percent unemployment rate in the statistic period of February to April, keeping flat over the previous term of January to March, according to official statistics issued Monday.

The figures from the Statistics and Census Service showed that the number of jobless residents seeking their first job was around 700, or 6.7 percent of the unemployed population, from February to April.

Macao's total labor force was estimated at 267,700 in the period, the figures showed.

The special administrative region has a population of nearly 500,000.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2006)