Only 10.5 percent indicated they were actively thinking of pursuing a career in the GBA, with around 57 percent focused on working in Macao
Most Macao residents are unwilling to work in the GBA, survey finds
Article by:
PUBLISHED:
The Macao Federation of Trade Unions (MFTU) has found that only 10.5 percent of Macao residents would actively consider taking their work or careers to Hengqin or the mainland cities in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA).
The result came from a job survey that the organisation carried out between January and August 2026, which involved 1,240 responses from Macao residents aged 18 and over. Data from the survey was shared by MFTU representatives during a press conference that was covered by local media on 3 August.
While many locals were not actively thinking about full-time work in the GBA or Hengqin, 23.1 percent of residents stated that they were open to projects in either of these places if they could remain based in Macao.
Some 57 percent of respondents noted that they were focused on developing their careers in Macao only. In addition, 4.6 percent of survey takers said they were considering a career in Hong Kong or overseas, with another 4.4 percent unsure of their future plans.
Why do some Macao residents want to work in the GBA?
For respondents interested in pursuing work in the GBA, the researchers found that 46.9 percent of them were motivated by the region’s lower accommodation costs and living expenses.
Other reasons included higher salary levels or better value for money (39.1 percent), superior business policies and environment (35.5 percent), larger industry platforms and employment prospects (30.4 percent), long-term family or personal plans (25 percent), better education and health resources (24.8 percent) and alignment with China’s strategic policy and regional development (13.6 percent).
The researchers found that cross-regional integration continued to face challenges, including the need for more financial support. More than 28 percent of respondents interested in intra-regional employment stated that the government should provide subsidies for employment, apartment rentals and entrepreneurship.
[See more: Hengqin at 5: A policy project or a genuine second home?]
Similarly, 18.5 percent of residents expressed hopes that the authorities would coordinate on resolving social welfare issues relating to commuting across the SAR line, as well as education for their children and healthcare.
The MFTU offered a number of suggestions such as simplifying tax declaration procedures, enhancing the explanation of cross-border social security entitlements, setting up a platform for professional qualification recognition and establishing a one-stop “cross-border employment centre.”
What hurdles are Macao residents facing in the job market?
The MFTU’s study also looked at the job difficulties faced by Macao residents. Some 43 percent of respondents said they struggled to find work due to insufficient positions or the lack of choices.
This was followed by 34.1 percent of residents who reported difficulty in their job hunt as there was a shortage of recruitment information channels.
Other reasons included a discrepancy between their skills and the job requirements (33.5 percent), strict age and education limits (31.8 percent), as well as insufficient interview experience and weak test-taking skills (27.7 percent).
The MFTU called on the authorities to safeguard local employment, provide assistance to workers of different age levels, update training and work regulations to include middle-aged and older employees, provide training in emerging sectors such as AI and green energy and assess the impact that AI was having on the job market.
