In 2023, the rate of surveyed unemployment in urban areas of China amounted to approximately 5.2 percent. The unemployment rate is expected to decrease slightly to 5.1 percent in 2024 and the following years. Monthly unemployment ranged at a level of around 5.2 percent in the third quarter of 2024. Unemployment rate in China In 2017, the National Statistics Bureau of China introduced surveyed unemployment as a new indicator of unemployment in the country. It is based on monthly surveys among the labor force in urban areas of China. Surveyed unemployment replaced registered unemployment figures, which were often criticized for missing out large parts of the urban labor force and thereby not presenting a true picture of urban unemployment levels. However, current unemployment figures still do not include rural areas.A main concern in China’s current state of employment lies within the large regional differences. As of 2021, the unemployment rate in northeastern regions of China was notably higher than in China’s southern parts. In Beijing, China’s political and cultural center, registered unemployment ranged at around 3.2 percent for 2021. Indicators of economic activities Apart from the unemployment rate, most commonly used indicators to measure economic activities of a country are GDP growth and inflation rate. According to an IMF forecast, GDP growth in China will decrease to about 4.8 percent in 2024, after 5.2 percent in 2023, depicting a decrease of six percentage points from 10.6 percent in 2010. Quarterly growth data published by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated 4.6 percent GDP growth for the third quarter of 2024.

In December 2024, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at 5.1 percent, up from 5.0 percent in the previous month. The annual unemployment rate in China was 5.1 percent in 2024. Surveyed versus registered unemployment Figures on surveyed unemployment were published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China in 2018 for the first time. The use of surveys was initiated to get a more accurate picture of actual unemployment in urban areas of China. The surveys cover all permanent residents between the age of 16 and retirement age living in cities. In contrast, registered unemployment figures take only those people into account that have actively reported their unemployment. As most migrant workers and other groups that do not qualify for unemployment compensations in China normally do not report their unemployment status, the figures for registered unemployment are considerably lower than those for surveyed unemployment. Youth unemployment in China Youth unemployment has become a growing problem in China in recent years. Unemployment figures for young people fluctuate over the year and normally peak in July and August in China, when the largest number of graduates enter the job market. The youth unemployment rate increased from 13.9 percent in July 2019 to 16.8 percent in July 2020, 19.9 percent in July 2022, and 21.3 percent in June 2023. This is mainly due to difficult economic conditions and rising numbers of college graduates who often do not fit the demand for more practically skilled work in the job market.

In 2023, the youth unemployment rate in China increased by 0.9 percentage points (+6.06 percent) compared to 2022. With 15.72 percent, the youth unemployment rate thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. The youth unemployment rate refers to the share of the economically active population aged 15 to 24 currently without work but in search of employment. The youth unemployment rate does not include economically inactive persons such as the long-term unemployed or full-time students.Find more key insights for the youth unemployment rate in countries like Japan and Mongolia.

China Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -2.353 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -0.247 % for 2016. China Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.000 % in 1989 and a record low of -8.000 % in 1991. China Unemployment Rate: % Change data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s China – Table CN.IMF.IFS: Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment: Annual.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Total Economy: Registered Unemployment for China (LMUNRRTTCNQ156S) from Q1 2003 to Q3 2011 about China, unemployment, and rate.

Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Sichuan data was reported at 3.600 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.630 % for 2020. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Sichuan data is updated yearly, averaging 4.015 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2021, with 34 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.500 % in 1980 and a record low of 2.300 % in 1985. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Sichuan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GB: Registered Unemployment.

In February 2025, the surveyed unemployment rate of people between 30 and 59 years of age in urban areas of China ranged at 4.3 percent. December 2023 unemployment figures were prepared by the National Bureau of Statistics of China using for the first time an adjusted methodology for calculating age specific unemployment rates. According to the new methodology, university students are not included in the figures any more. Furthermore, the age range for adult unemployment has been split up into two age groups from 25 to 29 and 30 to 59 years.Adult unemployment is commonly considerably lower than youth unemployment. Therefore, the total unemployment rate in urban areas of China is usually slightly higher than the adult unemployment rate of people aged 30 to 59.

The graph shows the quarterly registered unemployment rate in urban regions of China from the second quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2021 and the surveyed urban unemployment rate since the first quarter of 2022 with an approximate figure for Q4 2021. During the second quarter of 2023, around 5.2 percent of the Chinese urban labor force had been unemployed. The monthly surveyed unemployment rate of urban areas in China ranged at 5.2 percent in August 2023. The figures of the monthly surveyed unemployment rate indicate that surveyed unemployment in the fourth quarter of 2021 had ranged between 4.9 and 5.1 percent.

Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Jilin data was reported at 6.800 % in Jun 2022. Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Jilin data is updated monthly, averaging 6.800 % from Jun 2022 (Median) to Jun 2022, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.800 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 6.800 % in Jun 2022. Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Jilin data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GB: Surveyed Unemployment.

Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Guangdong: Zhongshan data was reported at 2.480 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.500 % for 2020. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Guangdong: Zhongshan data is updated yearly, averaging 2.300 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2021, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.500 % in 2020 and a record low of 2.100 % in 2010. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Guangdong: Zhongshan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Zhongshan Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GF: Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Prefecture Level City.

Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Chongqing data was reported at 2.920 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.490 % for 2020. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Chongqing data is updated yearly, averaging 3.580 % from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2021, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.490 % in 2020 and a record low of 2.620 % in 2019. Registered Unemployment Rate: Urban: Chongqing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GB: Registered Unemployment.

The statistic shows the estimated unemployment rate in China from 2013 to 2023, broken down by gender. In 2023, approximately 4.31 percent of the female labor force in China were unemployed.

A taxa de desemprego juvenil na China diminuiu para 15,70% em dezembro, em comparação com 16,10% em novembro de 2024. Valores atuais, dados históricos, previsões, estatísticas, gráficos e calendário econômico - China - Taxa de Desemprego de Jovens.

In 2023, the surveyed unemployment rate in Beijing municipality in China ranged at 4.4 percent. Surveyed unemployment in China is normally higher than registered unemployment.

The methodology for collecting unemployment data and calculating the unemployment rate was changed in 2022, switching from registered to surveyed unemployment. While registered unemployment does only take into account those people who actively registered as unemployed, surveyed unemployment is based on representative employment surveys among the labor force and should provide a more accurate picture of actual unemployment.

Registered Unemployment: Jiangsu: Nantong data was reported at 37.301 Person th in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 37.233 Person th for 2018. Registered Unemployment: Jiangsu: Nantong data is updated yearly, averaging 34.850 Person th from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2019, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.165 Person th in 2011 and a record low of 21.575 Person th in 1999. Registered Unemployment: Jiangsu: Nantong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Nantong Municipal Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Labour Market – Table CN.GF: Registered Unemployment: Urban: Prefecture Level City.

Forecast: Revenue of Unemployment Insurance in China 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

Forecast: Number of Beneficiaries of Unemployment Insurance in China 2022 - 2026 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2023, the surveyed unemployment rate in the Shanghai municipality ranged at 4.5 percent. The Shanghai Statistics Bureau changed the methodology for collecting and calculating the unemployment rate this year, switching from registered unemployment to surveyed unemployment. While registered unemployment did only take into account those people who actively registered as unemployed, surveyed unemployment is based on representative surveys among the labor force and should provide a more accurate picture of actual unemployment.

Chinas Arbeitslosenquote belief sich im 2024-12 auf 5.10 %. Dies stellt keine Veränderung im Vergleich zu den vorherigen Zahlen von 5.10 % für 2024-09 dar. Chinas Arbeitslosenquote werden vierteljährlich aktualisiert, mit einem Durchschnitt von 5.11 % von 2017-03 bis 2024-12, mit 32 Beobachtungen. Die Daten erreichten ein Allzeithoch in Höhe von 5.90 % im 2020-03 und ein Rekordtief in Höhe von 4.80 % im 2018-06. Chinas Arbeitslosenquote Daten behalten den Aktiv-Status in CEIC und werden von CEIC Data gemeldet. Die Daten werden unter World Trend Pluss Global Economic Monitor – Table: Unemployment Rate: Quarterly kategorisiert.

Macau SAR (China) Unemployment data was reported at 6,700.000 Person in Dec 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 6,700.000 Person for Sep 2024. Macau SAR (China) Unemployment data is updated quarterly, averaging 9,400.000 Person from Mar 1996 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 116 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15,200.000 Person in Sep 2022 and a record low of 5,600.000 Person in Dec 1997. Macau SAR (China) Unemployment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics and Census Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau SAR (China) – Table MO.G022: Unemployment: by Age.