Macau's visitor arrivals have shown double-digit growth approaching 30million this year with a wave of hotels slated to open in the next few years. Considering the 543,000-strong population which presents a small pool of labour, the tiny former Portuguese enclave has been challenged with manpower issues due to a government initiative which forces companies to hire a set quota of local residents to stimulate the economy.
As of the first quarter, the city's Statistics and Census Service indicated culture, recreation and gambling as the biggest employer with 79,800 people, followed by hotels and restaurants (40,600), construction (36,900) and wholesale and retail (36,400).
Manpower has been an ongoing issue in the enclave. The tourism industry started feeling the pinch with the lead-up to the five integrated resorts that opened in the past 25 months. Wynn Macau, for instance, employs more than 7,000 people, and the entry of the mammoth 3,000-room Venetian Macao casino last year was a particular concern because of the scale of development that demanded a headcount of 12,000.
Hotels that are up and running already have their labour pool, but a skilled-labour shortage is still an issue for tourism development as more new hotels are due to be completed in the next few years.
The 600-room Wynn Macau has hired all it needs to run its existing operations. 'Periodically we advertise job vacancies,' a spokesperson for the hotel said. 'We don't expect huge recruitment needs for the next 12 months until we are ready to recruit for our next project. Encore at Wynn Macau [previously known as Wynn Diamond Suites] will add about 400 suites and four villas along with restaurants, additional retail and gaming space. We started construction of Encore in 2007, and expect the property to open in early 2010.
'It can be a challenge to fill certain skilled positions, but we have worked hard to create a positive and rewarding work environment to ensure we attract and retain the very best,' she added.