Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5.10 percent in October from 5.20 percent in September of 2025. This dataset provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

In October 2025, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at *** percent, down from *** percent in 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.

Youth Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 17.30 percent in October from 17.70 percent in September of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for China Youth Unemployment Rate.

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 October 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.

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 5.2 percent in the third 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.

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.

In September 2025, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at 5.2 percent, down from 5.3 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.

Key information about China Unemployment Rate

• China Unemployment Rate increased to 5.20% in Sep 2025, from the previously reported figure of 5.00% in Jun 2025.
• China Unemployment Rate is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2017 to Sep 2025, with an average rate of 5.00%.
• 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.

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: % 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.

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.

China Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data was reported at -1.266 % in Dec 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.000 % for Sep 2017. China Unemployment Rate: % Change over Previous Period data is updated quarterly, averaging 0.000 % from Jun 2002 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.556 % in Jun 2002 and a record low of -4.762 % in Sep 2010. 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: Quarterly.

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.

The number of unemployed persons in China increased to 1102 Tens of Thousands in the first quarter of 2022 from 1040 Tens of Thousands in the fourth quarter of 2021. This dataset provides - China Unemployed Persons - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

CN: Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average: Shanxi data was reported at 6.100 % in Jun 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.700 % for Mar 2022. CN: Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average: Shanxi data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.900 % from Mar 2022 (Median) to Jun 2022, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.100 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 5.700 % in Mar 2022. CN: Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average: Shanxi 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.

From the second quarter of 2022, France was the country of those included in the chart with the highest unemployment rates. During the first quarter of 2024, the European country registered an unemployment rate of **** percent. In the same quarter, Japan had the lowest unemployment rates of the countries included. China does not release quarterly unemployment rate statistics anymore. Monthly unemployment data can be found here.

PurposeThis study explores the intricate relationship between unemployment rates and emotional responses among Chinese university graduates, analyzing how these factors correlate with specific linguistic features on the popular social media platform Sina Weibo. The goal is to uncover patterns that elucidate the psychological and emotional dimensions of unemployment challenges among this demographic.MethodsThe analysis utilized a dataset of 30,540 Sina Weibo posts containing specific keywords related to unemployment and anxiety, collected from January 2019 to June 2023. The posts were pre-processed to eliminate noise and refine the data quality. Linear regression and textual analyses were employed to identify correlations between unemployment rates for individuals aged 16–24 and the linguistic characteristics of the posts.ResultsThe study found significant fluctuations in urban youth unemployment rates, peaking at 21.3% in June 2023. A corresponding increase in anxiety-related expressions was noted in the social media posts, with peak expressions aligning with high unemployment rates. Linguistic analysis revealed that the category of “Affect” showed a strong positive correlation with unemployment rates, indicating increased emotional expression alongside rising unemployment. Other categories such as “Negative emotion” and “Sadness” also showed significant correlations, highlighting a robust relationship between economic challenges and emotional distress.ConclusionThe findings underscore the profound impact of unemployment on the emotional well-being of university students, suggesting that economic hardships are closely linked to psychological stress and heightened negative emotions. This study contributes to a holistic understanding of the socio-economic challenges faced by young adults, advocating for comprehensive support systems that address both the economic and psychological facets of unemployment.

In 2023, China's labor force amounted to approximately 772.2 million people. The labor force in China indicated a general decreasing trend in recent years. As both the size of the population in working age and the share of the population participating in the labor market are declining, this downward trend will most likely persist in the foreseeable future. A country’s labor force is defined as the total number of employable people and incorporates both the employed and the unemployed population. Population challenges for China One of the reasons for the shrinking labor force is the Chinese one-child policy, which had been in effect for nearly 40 years, until it was revoked in 2016. The controversial policy was intended to improve people’s living standards and optimize resource distribution through controlling the size of China’s expanding population. Nonetheless, the policy also led to negative impacts on the labor market, pension system and other societal aspects. Today, China is becoming an aging society. The increase of elderly people and the lack of young people will become a big challenge for China in this century. Employment in China Despite the slowing down of economic growth, China’s unemployment rate has sustained a relatively low rate. Complete production chains and a well-educated labor force make China’s labor market one of the most attractive in the world. Working conditions and salaries in China have also improved significantly over the past years. Due to China’s leading position in terms of talent in the technology industry, the country is now attracting investment from some of the world’s leading companies in the high-tech sector.

China Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average data was reported at 5.270 % in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.030 % for Dec 2024. China Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.230 % from Mar 2022 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.830 % in Jun 2022 and a record low of 5.000 % in Jun 2024. China Surveyed Unemployment Rate: Urban: Average 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.

In 2024, the public unemployment insurance in China paid on average ***** yuan per month to every unemployed beneficiary. This was an increase of *** yuan compared to 2021.