The unemployment rate among non-school youth in China is high- 17.6% among 16-24 year olds

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On October 22, China’s National Bureau of Statistics released the unemployment rate data for September, revealing that the unemployment rate among urban workers aged 16 to 24, excluding students, stands at 17.6%. While this marks a slight decrease from August’s rate of 18.8%, it remains at a concerning level.

Furthermore, the statistics indicate that the unemployment rate for workers aged 25 to 29, also excluding students, is at 6.7%, while the rate for those aged 30 to 59 is significantly lower at 3.9%.

This data has sparked a lively discussion among Chinese netizens, with many questioning the methodology and accuracy of the statistics. One user commented, “These figures look too polished,” while another remarked, “Is the unemployment rate for 30-59 really 3.9%? Are we sure that’s not the employment rate?” Some users have conducted informal surveys, with one reporting that out of 63 people aged 30 to 59 in their circle, 12.7% were unemployed. Another user suggested, “I’d like to see the percentage of those not paying into social security; that would reflect the real situation better.”

During a press conference on October 18, Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Statistics Sheng Laiyun highlighted three key factors supporting employment stability in China: consistent economic growth, a transformation in industrial structure, and a demographic shift that has seen a net decrease of 5 to 6 million workers aged 16 to 59 each year since 2013, totaling around 10 million last year.

Sheng emphasized that there are significant structural contradictions in China’s employment landscape, with mounting pressure for youth employment and an elevated unemployment rate.

It’s worth noting that in June of the previous year, the National Bureau of Statistics temporarily halted the publication of youth unemployment rates amid rising figures, which peaked at 21.3% for those aged 16 to 24. Public opinion largely speculated that the decision was a form of concealment. However, the Bureau later clarified that they would exclude students from the unemployment data and would categorize the 25 to 59 age group into two segments, resuming the publication of youth unemployment statistics in January this year.