China’s urban youth unemployment rate increased to 17.9% in July, the highest level in 11 months, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday. The figure marks a sharp rise from 14.9% in June and represents the worst reading since August 2023.
The unemployment rate for the 25-to-29 age group also edged up to 7.2% from 7.1% in June, reflecting ongoing challenges for younger workers entering the labor market. In contrast, the jobless rate for the 30-to-59 demographic dipped slightly to 3.9% from 4.0%.
The latest figures underscore persistent labor market strains in China, particularly among younger urban workers, despite broader economic stabilization efforts. The National Bureau of Statistics did not provide additional context on the drivers behind the increase, though analysts have previously cited structural factors such as slower economic growth and sectoral mismatches between labor supply and demand.
