In 2024, the employment rate in China decreased to around 62.4 percent, from 62.8 percent in the previous year. China is the world’s most populous country and its rapid economic development over the past decades has profited greatly from its large labor market. While the overall working conditions for the Chinese people are improving, the actual size of the working-age population in China has been shrinking steadily in recent years. This is mainly due to a low birth rate in the country. Economic slowdown – impact on labor market After decades of rapid development, the world’s second largest economy now seems to have difficulties to boost its economy further. The GDP growth rate indicated a declining trend over the last decade and the number of employed people decreased for the first time since decades in 2015. Under the influence of the global economic downturn, the coronavirus pandemic, and the US-China tensions, many Chinese enterprises are having tough times, which leads to a recession in China’s labor market. Chances for better employment situation The long-lasting Sino-U.S. trade war has caused China great loss on its international trade sector, which has been driving China’s economic growth for decades. However, there is also a lot China could improve. First, the potential of domestic demands could be further developed and satisfied with high-quality products. Second, it’s a good timing to eliminate backward industries with low value added, and the high-tech and environment-friendly industries should be further promoted. In addition, China’s market could be more open to services, especially in the financial sector and IT services, to attract more foreign investors. Highly skilled talents should be better valued in the labor market. Efficient vocational education and further education could also help change the structure of China’s labor market.

Unemployment Rate in China remained unchanged at 5 percent in June. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In June 2025, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at *** percent, remaining flat from the previous month. The annual unemployment rate in China was *** 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 2024, the rate of surveyed unemployment in urban areas of China amounted to approximately 5.1 percent. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 5.1 percent in 2025 and the following years. Monthly unemployment ranged at a level of around 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2025. 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 four percent in 2025, after five percent in 2023, depicting a decrease of more than six percentage points from 10.6 percent in 2010. Quarterly growth data published by the National Bureau of Statistics indicated 5.4 percent GDP growth for the first quarter of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for China (SLEMPTOTLSPZSCHN) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, China, employment, and population.

China resumed the release of youth unemployment data in January 2024 after publication had been suspended for six months, using a new statistical methodology. Youth unemployment hit a record high of 21.3 percent in June 2023 after having increased for several years in a row, when a spokesman of the National Bureau of Statistics of China announced that the statistical methodology for calculating age specific unemployment rates needed improvement and publication would be temporarily suspended. The new methodology does not include university students anymore, resulting in a youth unemployment rate of **** percent in June 2025. Youth jobless figures fluctuate over the year and normally peak in July in China, when the largest number of graduates enter the job market.

CN: Unemployment Rate: % Change data was reported at -2.985 % in Dec 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of -2.228 % for Sep 2017. CN: Unemployment Rate: % Change data is updated quarterly, averaging -0.367 % from Mar 2003 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.889 % in Mar 2003 and a record low of -6.977 % in Sep 2010. CN: 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: Quarterly.

Youth Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 14.50 percent in June from 14.90 percent in May of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for China Youth Unemployment Rate.

In 2024, the surveyed unemployment rate in Beijing municipality in China ranged at *** 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.

Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 31.84 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Employment in industry (% of total employment) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

The number of employed persons in China decreased to 73439 Tens of Thousands in 2024 from 74041 Tens of Thousands in 2023. This dataset provides - China Employed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Employment: Urban: Beijing data was reported at 9.890 Person mn in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.910 Person mn for 2022. Employment: Urban: Beijing data is updated yearly, averaging 8.471 Person mn from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 31 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.696 Person mn in 2018 and a record low of 4.563 Person mn in 2000. Employment: Urban: Beijing 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: Employment: Region.

China Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period 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 over Previous Period 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 over Previous Period 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.

Key information about China Labour Force Participation Rate

• China Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 65.8 % in Dec 2023, compared with 65.8 % in the previous year.
• China Labour Force Participation Rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 1990 to Dec 2023, with an average rate of 72.1 % .
• The data reached the an all-time high of 79.2 % in Dec 1990 and a record low of 65.8 % in Dec 2022.
• China Labour Force Participation Rate is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,408.3 million people in Dec 2024.
• Unemployment Rate of China remained the same at 5.1 % in Dec 2024.
• The country's Monthly Earnings stood at 1,392.5 USD in Dec 2023.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 4.571 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The graph shows the number of employed people in China from 2014 to 2024. In 2024, the workforce in China amounted to around 734.4 million people. This marked an annual decrease of six million and is in line with a general downward trend since 2014. Workforce in China China’s total population has been declining since 2022 and dropped by 1.4 million annually to around 1.408 billion as of the end of 2024. This development is also reflected in the number of people in working age which has been shrinking since 2014. The labor force of China, which refers to the population aged 16 and over and capable of working, has been declining since 2016 and ranged at around 772.2 million in 2023. Out of the total number of employed people in 2023, about 470.3 million people were employed in urban areas, while 270.1 million people were working in rural areas. Distribution of the workforce The share of the workforce employed in the primary sector declined significantly from 36.7 percent in 2010 to 22.8 percent in 2023, only interrupted in 2022 by effects related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the percentage of people employed in the primary sector decreased, the tertiary sector gained importance. As of 2023, about 29.1 percent of Chinese workers were employed in secondary and 48.1 percent in tertiary industries. The share of the workforce employed in the secondary sector increased until 2012 but decreased thereafter due to China's shift towards a service driven economy.

Key information about China Labour Productivity Growth

• China Labour Productivity improved by 5.84 % YoY in Dec 2024, compared with a growth of 4.43 % in the previous year
• China Labour Productivity Growth data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1953 to Dec 2024, averaging at 7.34 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.12 % in Dec 1970 and a record low of -26.48 % in Dec 1961

CEIC calculates Labour Productivity Growth from annual Real GDP Index and annual Employment. The National Bureau of Statistics provides Real GDP, at 1978 prices. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security provides Employment. Employment excludes Foreign Nationals working within the country. Real GDP prior to 1979 is based on Real GDP PY=100.


Further information about China Labour Productivity Growth

• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,408.28 Person mn in Dec 2024
• Its Unemployment Rate remained the same at 5.10 % in Dec 2024
• Monthly Earnings of China stood at 1,392.46 USD in Dec 2023
• The country's Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 65.83 % in Dec 2023

Employment statistics on the Online Shopping industry in China

Employment: Shanghai data was reported at 13.450 Person mn in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13.470 Person mn for 2022. Employment: Shanghai data is updated yearly, averaging 7.919 Person mn from Dec 1993 (Median) to 2023, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.740 Person mn in 2020 and a record low of 6.700 Person mn in 1998. Employment: Shanghai 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: Employment: Region.

Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 59.56 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.