Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5.20 percent in September from 5.30 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Youth Unemployment Rate in China increased to 18.90 percent in August from 17.80 percent in July of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for China Youth Unemployment Rate.

In August 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.

Key information about China Unemployment Rate

• China Unemployment Rate remained the same at 5.10% in Dec 2024, from the previously reported figure of 5.10% in Sep 2024.
• China Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2017 to Dec 2024, with an average rate of 5.11%.
• The data reached an all-time high of 5.90% in Mar 2020 and a record low of 4.80% in Jun 2018.
• The data is reported by reported by CEIC Data.
• In the latest reports, China Population reached 1,408.28 million people in Dec 2024.

China Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 59 data was reported at 4.100 % in Jun 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 4.100 % for May 2023. China Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 59 data is updated monthly, averaging 4.600 % from Nov 2017 (Median) to Jun 2023, with 67 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.600 % in Feb 2020 and a record low of 4.100 % in Jun 2023. China Unemployment Rate: Age 25 to 59 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. According to NBS news, from Aug 2023, the urban surveyed unemployment rate of the young people by age group will be suspend. 根据国家统计局新闻发布会，自2023年8月份起，全国青年人等分年龄段的城镇调查失业率将暂停发布.

The youth unemployment rate in China was 15.23 percent in 2024. Between 1991 and 2024, the youth unemployment rate rose by 10.86 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Total Economy: Registered Unemployment for China (LMUNRRTTCNQ156N) from Q1 2003 to Q3 2011 about China, unemployment, and rate.

View monthly updates and historical trends for China Urban Survey Unemployment Rate. Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China. Track economic data w…

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.

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.

China Unemployment Rate: Age 16 to 24 data was reported at 21.300 % in Jun 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 20.800 % for May 2023. China Unemployment Rate: Age 16 to 24 data is updated monthly, averaging 13.700 % from Jan 2018 (Median) to Jun 2023, with 66 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 21.300 % in Jun 2023 and a record low of 9.600 % in May 2018. China Unemployment Rate: Age 16 to 24 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. According to NBS news, from Aug 2023, the urban surveyed unemployment rate of the young people by age group will be suspend. 根据国家统计局新闻发布会，自2023年8月份起，全国青年人等分年龄段的城镇调查失业率将暂停发布.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for China (SLUEM1524ZSCHN) from 1991 to 2024 about 15 to 24 years, China, unemployment, and rate.

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 October of 2025.

The unemployment rate in China stands at 5 percent according to the latest data from . That reading shows a decrease from the level of 5.2 percent in the previous quarter and no change from the level of 5 percent in the same quarter of the previous year. The unemployment rate data in China...

China: Unemployment rate for males: The latest value from 2024 is 5.06 percent, a decline from 5.17 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.29 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1991 to 2024 is 4.51 percent. The minimum value, 2.63 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 5.54 percent was recorded in 2020.

View yearly updates and historical trends for China Unemployment Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies: Total Economy: Registered Unemployment for China (LMUNRLTTCNA647N) from 1978 to 2010 about participation, China, and unemployment.

Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 3.975 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

In 2024, approximately 11 million people in urban areas of China had been registered as unemployed. That was an increase from 10.7 million in the previous year. Unemployment figures in China Two different sets of unemployment figures exist in China, registered unemployment and surveyed unemployment. Surveyed unemployment figures represent estimates for total unemployment in urban areas based on monthly conducted surveys. In contrast, registered unemployment refers to people in urban areas who are covered by unemployment insurance and have registered their joblessness to receive unemployment payments. As many laborers working in Chinese cities are not covered by unemployment insurance, figures for registered unemployment are always lower than those for surveyed unemployment and do not represent a correct picture of total unemployment. According to the graph at hand, absolute registered unemployment in urban China has gradually risen over the past decade. This is mainly related to an overall increase of people living and working in Chinese cities. Absolute figures for the total number of unemployed people are not published in China. Regional disparities in unemployment For several decades, unemployment figures in undeveloped western and central regions of China had been higher than those of the developing coastal provinces. This trend has been changing in recent years, as the economic development in many inner regions of China has caught up and labor intensive industries have been moved from the increasingly expensive coastal regions to cheaper locations in inner provinces. This trend has been supported by government efforts to develop the formerly underdeveloped western and central regions. Nevertheless, regional disparities remain, and overall economic conditions are still far from being equal. Nowadays, regional urban unemployment rates in the former center of the Chinese steel and heavy industries in northeastern China are the highest in national comparison, while unemployment in the southern coastal provinces Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan is comparatively low. Interestingly, the official unemployment rate of Beijing was by far the lowest in China, while that of Shanghai was much higher.