In May 2024, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at 5.0 percent, remaining flat from the previous month. The quarterly unemployment rate in China stood at 5.2 percent in the first quarter of 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 recently. Unemployment figures for young people fluctuate over the year and normally peak in July in China, when the largest number of graduates enter the job market. The youth unemployment rate has 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.
