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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 August 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.

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 youth unemployment rate for 2024 was 15.23%, a 0.52% decline from 2023.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>China youth unemployment rate for 2023 was <strong>15.75%</strong>, a <strong>0.93% increase</strong> from 2022.</li>
<li>China youth unemployment rate for 2022 was <strong>14.81%</strong>, a <strong>2.39% increase</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>China youth unemployment rate for 2021 was <strong>12.42%</strong>, a <strong>0.26% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
</ul>Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in China was reported at 5.11 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, total (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

China: Unemployment rate: The latest value from 2024 is 4.57 percent, a decline from 4.67 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 6.80 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1991 to 2024 is 4.07 percent. The minimum value, 2.37 percent, was reached in 1991 while the maximum of 5 percent was recorded in 2020.

China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Insured Person data was reported at 245,890.000 Person th in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 243,727.408 Person th for 2023. China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Insured Person data is updated yearly, averaging 123,998.484 Person th from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2024, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 245,890.000 Person th in 2024 and a record low of 74,430.000 Person th in 1992. China Social Security Fund: Unemployment: Insured Person 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 Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GT: Social Insurance: MOHRSS: No of Insured Person.

Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 15.23 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

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.

Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 5.062 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The statistic shows the estimated unemployment rate in China from 2014 to 2024, broken down by gender. In 2024, approximately 3.98 percent of the female labor force in China were unemployed.

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.

Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate) in China was reported at 13.55 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.