Macao casino employment rises, wages up 6.3% in 2024

The number of full-time employees in Macao’s gambling sector rose to 52,971 at the end of 2024, making up nearly 14% of the city’s total labor force, according to new data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).  

Wages in the sector saw a 6.3% year-on-year increase, with average monthly earnings—excluding irregular remuneration—reaching 26,890 patacas ($3,360) in December.  

Dealers, who represent 44% of the sector’s workforce, earned 21,470 patacas ($2,683) on average, up 2.9% year-on-year, a rise attributed to increases in salaries and working hours, the DSEC said.  

The number of vacant positions in the casino sector dropped to 253, down 147 year-on-year. Clerical roles accounted for 90 openings, while 54 positions were for directors and managers.  

Among job postings, 64.8% required prior work experience, while 62.5% accepted candidates with only a senior secondary education or lower.  

In Q4 2024, casinos in Macao hired 1,148 new employees, while 812 workers left, resulting in a staff turnover rate of 1.5%.  

The employment trends reflect a gradual recovery in Macao’s gaming sector, following pandemic-related disruptions in previous years.