Macau foreign-worker quota data tracker (quarterly)
As of end-June 2026 Macau had 181,389 non-resident workers (government figure). This page adds a section each quarter as official data lands, building a time series so employers can gauge whether the approval climate is tightening or easing — case outcomes still turn on job authenticity, business substance and paperwork.
On this page
What this page tracks and why
The non-resident worker total is the shared "approval climate" every applicant faces: a fast-rising total usually means tighter case-by-case scrutiny, while a flat or easing series leaves more room for shortage sectors. A time series beats pre-application hearsay. Each quarter we append a section as official data lands, with source and timestamp on every figure; official figures prevail.
First issue: mid-2026
| Indicator | Latest | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-resident worker total | 181,389 | End of June 2026 | Macau SAR government announcement |
| Industry distribution series | To follow once quarterly data lands | — | DSEC / Labour Affairs Bureau |
| Quarter-on-quarter change | Built up issue by issue | — | This page |
← Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →
The tracking frame
Four indicators per issue: the worker total (overall climate), industry distribution (sector-level headcount), quarter-on-quarter change (direction of travel), and policy notes (minimum-wage or policy changes that move approvals).
How employers should read it
When the total has risen for two consecutive quarters, prepare applications more thoroughly than usual (complete recruitment records, business evidence, role authenticity) and allow more review time; in flat periods, proceed at the normal rhythm. Use industry distribution to sense your sector's headcount — the higher your sector's concentration, the stronger your "cannot hire locally" evidence needs to be. Case preparation lives in our quota series: policy explainer, review factors and rejection remedies, all interlinked.
FAQ
- Q: How many non-resident workers are in Macau now? A: 181,389 as of end-June 2026; this page updates each quarter as official data lands.
- Q: Where does the data come from? A: Macau SAR government announcements and public DSEC statistics, timestamped on citation; official figures prevail.
