Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Macau: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Macau is placed joint 26th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 66.25 (2025); Labour Income Share 30.07 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint26th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Macau on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
66.25
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Macau: 66.25. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 79.24 North Korea
- Land neighbours
- China 61.57
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
2.347
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Macau: 2.347. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 2.347 Macau
- Land neighbours
- China 4.615
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
3.326
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Macau: 3.326. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 3.326 Macau
- Land neighbours
- China 33.4
02Over time
Which way Macau is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
MacauWorld median
Macau rose from 61.02 in 2000 to 66.25 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Macau World median 2025 66.3 57.720 2024 66.7 57.694 2023 66.5 58.158 2022 65.0 57.688 2021 67.4 56.066 2020 66.9 55.691 2019 68.6 57.871 2018 68.8 56.911 2017 68.5 56.738 2016 68.7 56.845 2015 69.5 56.788 2014 70.2 56.774 2013 69.6 56.229 2012 69.3 56.289 2011 69.1 56.297 2010 68.0 56.212 2009 67.5 56.255 2008 67.7 57.308 2007 66.4 56.933 2006 63.3 56.685 2005 61.3 56.129 2004 59.6 55.465 2003 58.0 55.630 2002 60.1 55.843 2001 60.8 56.018 2000 61.0 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
MacauWorld median
Macau rose from 27.51 in 2004 to 30.07 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Macau World median 2025 30.07 46.230 2024 29.83 46.060 2023 27.35 45.900 2022 30.89 45.615 2021 29.45 45.433 2020 31.88 47.267 2019 30.28 46.277 2018 28.86 46.187 2017 30.19 46.467 2016 32.55 46.798 2015 31.59 46.876 2014 23.34 47.281 2013 20.90 46.887 2012 21.83 46.231 2011 21.76 45.679 2010 24.33 46.024 2009 30.22 47.071 2008 31.78 45.312 2007 32.32 45.246 2006 30.78 45.670 2005 29.47 46.265 2004 27.51 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
MacauWorld median
Macau fell from 6.874 in 2000 to 2.347 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Macau World median 2025 2.35 5.08 2024 2.26 5.15 2023 2.21 5.21 2022 2.45 5.34 2021 2.22 6.04 2020 2.54 6.38 2019 1.73 5.36 2018 1.80 5.35 2017 1.98 5.59 2016 1.94 5.90 2015 1.81 6.41 2014 1.67 6.58 2013 1.82 6.71 2012 1.97 6.79 2011 2.56 6.90 2010 2.84 7.04 2009 3.58 6.67 2008 3.00 5.79 2007 3.27 6.00 2006 3.82 6.50 2005 4.16 7.09 2004 4.90 6.80 2003 6.00 6.95 2002 6.28 6.91 2001 6.37 6.96 2000 6.87 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
MacauWorld median
Macau fell from 8.401 in 2000 to 3.326 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Macau World median 2025 3.33 28.67 2024 3.63 29.04 2023 3.86 29.33 2022 3.89 29.67 2021 3.24 30.01 2020 3.49 30.54 2019 3.28 29.98 2018 3.04 30.15 2017 3.40 29.93 2016 3.23 29.91 2015 3.35 30.26 2014 3.20 30.47 2013 3.55 31.14 2012 4.11 31.00 2011 4.37 31.41 2010 4.84 32.37 2009 4.85 32.59 2008 4.65 31.76 2007 5.16 33.47 2006 5.54 34.27 2005 6.44 34.66 2004 8.08 35.51 2003 7.55 35.90 2002 6.98 35.96 2001 7.80 35.27 2000 8.40 35.67
03In context
Macau beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Macau and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macau | =26th | 66.25 | 30.07 | 2.347 | 3.326 |
 China | 60th | 61.57 | 51.23 | 4.615 | 33.4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Macau in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Macau is ahead of the world, and behind
12 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Macau does better than the middle country measured.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5752.650.575No earlier reading
Macau: 2.65 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,384204,81747,384No real change since 2015
Macau: 204,817 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 5th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1681.3222.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Macau: 81.32 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 13th of 182 · derived.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3663.153.36No real change since 2015
Macau: 63.1 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 27th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6667.8561.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Macau: 67.85 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 37th of 182 · derived.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.836.77912.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Macau: 6.779 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 143rd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 06.80No earlier reading
Macau: 6.8 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end5
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5188.6359.51No real change since 2015
Macau: 88.63 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 3rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8945.5638.89No real change since 2015
Macau: 45.56 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 19th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8810.9918.88Moved since 2015
Macau: 10.99 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 158th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.846.76231.84No real change since 2015
Macau: 6.762 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 173rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.380.37414.38No real change since 2015
Macau: 0.374 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 180th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Macau
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2018), Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2016), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2016). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Macau’s 5 topics
Work & Labour is Macau’s 2nd best-placed topic of 5. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade2nd of 1772/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 26th of 1824/4 keys
- Energy83rd of 1652/3 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 131st of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 155th of 1982/4 keys
No standing on Governance & Institutions, Economy & Innovation, Health & Wellbeing, Development & Human Capital, Environment & Sustainability, Gender & Equality, Democracy & Civil Liberties, Peace & Security, Risk & Resilience, Food & Agriculture, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Macau can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysThis page
Macau=26th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Macau and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Macau on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Macau rank on work & labour?
Macau is placed joint 26th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Macau?
66.25 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Macau?
30.07 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Macau compare with China on work & labour?
China is placed 60th of 182, and Macau joint 26th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: China 61.57, Macau 66.25; Labour Income Share: China 51.23, Macau 30.07; Unemployment Rate: China 4.615, Macau 2.347; Vulnerable Employment: China 33.4, Macau 3.326.
How have Macau’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 61.02 in 2000 to 66.25 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 27.51 in 2004 to 30.07 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 6.874 in 2000 to 2.347 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 8.401 in 2000 to 3.326 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Macau?
No current reading is published for Macau on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per Worker, Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Compliance with Labour Rights, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Employment Injury Protection Coverage, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Firms Competing Against Informal Firms, Firms Offering Formal Training, Firms with a Female Top Manager, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Length of Paid Maternity Leave, Length of Paid Paternity Leave, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density, Working Poverty Rate and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 12 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Macau’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Macau (banner) — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Macau: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/macau/work