The number of migrant workers in Macau has grown sharply since the end of Covid-19 restrictions in early 2023. By the end of April 2025, Macau had 183,568 non-resident workers. This marks an increase of almost 31,700 people, according to new data from the Labour Affairs Bureau using records from the Public Security Police Force.
This rise represents a 20.9% increase compared to January 2023, when strict pandemic rules were lifted after being in place for more than three years. At that time, the number of migrant workers, mostly from mainland China, was under 152,000. The April 2025 figure is the highest since June 2020, showing a strong recovery in the labour market.
The hospitality and food service sectors saw the biggest increase in foreign workers, with 17,424 new hires since early 2023. Domestic workers also grew by 4,780, while the number of casino staff rose by 2,895. These industries were hit the hardest during the pandemic, especially tourism and hospitality, which had to lay off more than 17,600 non-resident workers since late 2019.
Macau’s tourism sector is bouncing back fast. From January to April 2025, the region welcomed 13 million visitors. That’s a 12.9% jump from the same time in 2024, making it the second-highest number ever recorded at the start of a year. The growing number of tourists is helping to drive up the demand for workers in hotels, restaurants, and casinos.
During the pandemic, Macau’s economy faced serious challenges. The unemployment rate reached 4% in the third quarter of 2022, which was the highest rate since 2006. Many people lost their jobs due to the drop in tourism and closed businesses.
Despite the big rise in foreign workers, the job market remains stable. Between February and April 2025, the unemployment rate stayed at 1.9%, showing that the local economy is managing the balance between local and non-resident employment well.
However, Macau’s economy still has challenges. Between January and March this year, the economy shrank by 1.3%. Officials say this was mainly due to changes in how tourists are spending money. The Statistics and Census Service believes visitor spending habits have shifted, affecting overall economic growth.
Even with this small economic dip, the sharp rise in migrant workers shows that businesses in Macau are hiring again, especially in sectors that were once struggling. The labour market is steadily recovering, with both locals and non-residents helping to rebuild the economy.