The number of paid employees engaged in the gaming industry stood at 36,412 at the end of 2006 in Macao, a year-on-year increase of 39.4 percent, according to official statistics issued Thursday.

The figures released by the government-run Statistics and Census Service (SCS) showed that some 22,669 of the gaming employees were engaged in positions that are directly related to betting services.

Average earnings for the positions that are directly related to betting services stood at 14,643 patacas (US$1,830) in 2006, a year-on-year rise of 26.2 percent.

The region has a population of 510,000 and a total workforce of 210,000.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2007)