Flag of cn

China Unemployment Rate

China's unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in September 2025 from 5.3% in August 2025. The August rate was a seasonal increase. The September figure shows a return to stability. This trend occurs despite a record high youth unemployment of 18.9% in August 2025, caused by many new graduates entering the workforce. Government policies focus on job creation and retention. China's record low unemployment rate was 3.9% in September 2002 and record high was 6.2% in February 2020.

Monthly Historical Data (2002-2025)

(in %)
Month Unemployment Rate
Sep 2025 5.2%
Aug 2025 5.3%
Jul 2025 5.2%
Jun 2025 5%
May 2025 5%
Apr 2025 5.1%
Mar 2025 5.2%
Feb 2025 5.4%
Jan 2025 5.2%
Dec 2024 5.1%
Nov 2024 5%
Oct 2024 5%
Sep 2024 5.1%
Aug 2024 5.3%
Jul 2024 5.2%
Jun 2024 5%
May 2024 5%
Apr 2024 5%
Mar 2024 5.2%
Feb 2024 5.3%
Jan 2024 5.2%
Dec 2023 5.1%
Nov 2023 5%
Oct 2023 5%
Sep 2023 5%
Aug 2023 5.2%
Jul 2023 5.3%
Jun 2023 5.2%
May 2023 5.2%
Apr 2023 5.2%
Mar 2023 5.3%
Feb 2023 5.6%
Jan 2023 5.5%
Dec 2022 5.5%
Nov 2022 5.7%
Oct 2022 5.5%
Sep 2022 5.5%
Aug 2022 5.3%
Jul 2022 5.4%
Jun 2022 5.5%
May 2022 5.9%
Apr 2022 6.1%
Mar 2022 5.8%
Feb 2022 5.5%
Jan 2022 5.3%
Dec 2021 5.1%
Nov 2021 5%
Oct 2021 4.9%
Sep 2021 4.9%
Aug 2021 5.1%
Jul 2021 5.1%
Jun 2021 5%
May 2021 5%
Apr 2021 5.1%
Mar 2021 5.3%
Feb 2021 5.5%
Jan 2021 5.4%
Dec 2020 5.2%
Nov 2020 5.2%
Oct 2020 5.3%
Sep 2020 5.4%
Aug 2020 5.6%
Jul 2020 5.7%
Jun 2020 5.7%
May 2020 5.9%
Apr 2020 6%
Mar 2020 5.9%
Feb 2020 6.2%
Jan 2020 5.3%
Dec 2019 5.2%
Nov 2019 5.1%
Oct 2019 5.1%
Sep 2019 5.2%
Aug 2019 5.2%
Jul 2019 5.3%
Jun 2019 5.1%
May 2019 5%
Apr 2019 5%
Mar 2019 5.2%
Feb 2019 5.3%
Jan 2019 5.1%
Dec 2018 4.9%
Nov 2018 4.8%
Oct 2018 4.9%
Sep 2018 4.9%
Aug 2018 5%
Jul 2018 5.1%
Jun 2018 4.8%
May 2018 4.8%
Apr 2018 4.9%
Mar 2018 5.1%
Feb 2018 5%
Jan 2018 5%
Dec 2017 3.9%
Sep 2017 4%
Jun 2017 4%
Mar 2017 4%
Dec 2016 4%
Sep 2016 4%
Jun 2016 4%
Mar 2016 4%
Dec 2015 4%
Sep 2015 4%
Jun 2015 4%
Mar 2015 4.1%
Dec 2014 4.1%
Sep 2014 4.1%
Jun 2014 4.1%
Mar 2014 4.1%
Dec 2013 4.1%
Sep 2013 4%
Jun 2013 4.1%
Mar 2013 4.1%
Dec 2012 4.1%
Sep 2012 4.1%
Jun 2012 4.1%
Mar 2012 4.1%
Dec 2011 4.1%
Sep 2011 4.1%
Jun 2011 4.1%
Mar 2011 4.1%
Dec 2010 4.1%
Sep 2010 4.1%
Jun 2010 4.2%
Mar 2010 4.2%
Dec 2009 4.3%
Sep 2009 4.3%
Jun 2009 4.3%
Mar 2009 4.3%
Dec 2008 4.2%
Sep 2008 4%
Jun 2008 4%
Mar 2008 4%
Dec 2007 4%
Sep 2007 4%
Jun 2007 4.1%
Mar 2007 4.1%
Dec 2006 4.1%
Sep 2006 4.1%
Jun 2006 4.2%
Mar 2006 4.2%
Dec 2005 4.2%
Sep 2005 4.2%
Jun 2005 4.2%
Mar 2005 4.2%
Dec 2004 4.2%
Sep 2004 4.2%
Jun 2004 4.3%
Mar 2004 4.3%
Dec 2003 4.3%
Sep 2003 4.2%
Jun 2003 4.1%
Mar 2003 4.1%
Dec 2002 4%
Sep 2002 3.9%

Recent Events

datetime event actual previous consensus
2025-10-19 10:00 PM Unemployment Rate (Sep) 5.2% 5.3% 5.3%
2025-09-14 10:00 PM Unemployment Rate (Aug) 5.3% 5.2% 5.2%

Next Release Date :

China Unemployment Rate : Definition
China's unemployment rate measures the percentage of jobless people actively seeking work. It's calculated by dividing the number of unemployed by the total labor force, then multiplying by 100. The surveyed urban unemployment rate is a key focus with rural figures less emphasized.
Indicator Last Value Prior Value Period
Annual Unemployment Rate 4.57% 4.67% 2024
Female Labor Force Rate 59.56% 59.95% 2024