Macau Casino Sector Sees Growth in Employment and Wages, But Faces High Turnover

At the end of the second quarter of 2024, Macau’s casino industry reported a modest increase in full-time employment.

The number of full-time employees rose by 1.6% to 52,518, reported Macao News which quoted the latest figures from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

According to the DSEC’s “Survey on Manpower Needs and Wages,” this growth is reflected in the sector’s recovery and rising demand for staff, driven by an increase in inbound tourism and the continuous recovery of the travel sector.

The average monthly earnings for casino employees, excluding irregular remuneration, climbed to MOP 26,750 (US$3,334), marking an 8.2% increase from the previous year. Dealers, who make up a significant portion of the workforce, saw their average earnings rise by 6.5% to MOP 21,660.

Despite the overall increase in employment, the number of dealers decreased slightly by 0.9% year-on-year, totaling 23,467. This figure also represents a decrease of 6.9% compared to the second quarter of 2019. In contrast, “directors and managers” experienced the most significant wage increase, with their average monthly pay rising by 17.4% to MOP 65,760.

Job vacancies in the sector surged dramatically to 498, an increase of 385 vacancies or nearly 640% from the previous year. This spike is attributed to the sector’s need to replenish its workforce due to growing tourism activities. The high turnover rate reflects a challenging labor market, with 1,492 new hires and 1,143 departures recorded in the second quarter. The employee recruitment rate rose to 2.9%, while the turnover rate slightly decreased to 2.2%.

The survey did not cover VIP gambling junket promoters and their associates.

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