Macao saw a 3.8-percent unemployment rate in the statistic period of April to June, flat over the previous term of March to May, 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 1,000, or 9.6 percent of the unemployed population, from April to June.

Macao's total labor force was estimated at 274,000 in the period, the figures showed.

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

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)