China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% in September 2026, compared to market expectations and August’s five-month high of 5.3%. The jobless rate among locally registered workers fell to 5.2% from 5.3%, while that for migrant workers eased to 5.1% from 5.2%. Among migrant workers, the unemployment rate for those engaged in agricultural work remained steady at 5.0%. In 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate also declined to 5.2% from 5.3% in the previous month. Employees at enterprises worked an average of 48.3 hours per week. The surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2% in the first three quarters. By the end of the third quarter, the number of rural migrant workers reached 192.7 million, up 0.4% year-on-year. source: National Bureau of Statistics of China

Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5.20 percent in September from 5.30 percent in August of 2026. Unemployment Rate in China averaged 4.82 percent from 2002 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 6.20 percent in February of 2020 and a record low of 3.90 percent in September of 2002. This page provides - China Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. China Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in China decreased to 5.20 percent in September from 5.30 percent in August of 2026. Unemployment Rate in China is expected to be 5.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the China Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 5.20 percent in 2027 and 5.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-15 02:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 5.3% 5.2% 5.2% 5.2%
2026-10-19 02:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Sep 5.2% 5.3% 5.3% 5.3%
2026-11-16 02:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Oct 5.2%

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Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Youth Unemployment Rate 18.00 18.90 percent Sep 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 48.30 48.20 Hours Sep 2026
Population 1405.00 1408.00 Million Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.20 5.30 percent Sep 2026
Wages 129441.00 124110.00 CNY/Year Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 113594.00 107987.00 CNY/Year Dec 2025


China Unemployment Rate
In China, Urban Surveyed Unemployment Rate is calculated by a sample survey, which refers to the ratio of urban unemployed population to the sum of the employed population and the unemployed population.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
5.20 5.30 6.20 3.90 2002 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
China Jobless Rate Edges Lower
China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% in September 2026, compared to market expectations and August’s five-month high of 5.3%. The jobless rate among locally registered workers fell to 5.2% from 5.3%, while that for migrant workers eased to 5.1% from 5.2%. Among migrant workers, the unemployment rate for those engaged in agricultural work remained steady at 5.0%. In 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate also declined to 5.2% from 5.3% in the previous month. Employees at enterprises worked an average of 48.3 hours per week. The surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2% in the first three quarters. By the end of the third quarter, the number of rural migrant workers reached 192.7 million, up 0.4% year-on-year.
2026-10-19
China Jobless Rate Hits 5-Month High
China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate rose to 5.3% in August 2026 from 5.2% in the previous month, surpassing market expectations of 5.2% and marking the highest reading since March. Among the locally registered labor force, the jobless rate increased to 5.3% from 5.2% in July, while the rate for migrant workers rose to 5.2% from 5.1%. Within the migrant labor force, the unemployment rate for agricultural workers stood at 5.0%, up from 4.9% in the previous month. Across 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate increased to 5.3% from 5.2% in July. Employees at enterprises worked an average of 48.2 hours per week. From January to August, the surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.2%, unchanged from the average for the first seven months and the same period last year.
2026-09-15
China Jobless Rate Rises More than Expected
China’s surveyed urban unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in July 2026 from a one-year low of 5.0% in June, slightly above market expectations of 5.1%. Among the locally registered labor force, the jobless rate increased to 5.2% from 5.0% in the previous month, while the rate for the migrant labor force rose to 5.2% from 4.9%. Within the migrant labor force, the unemployment rate for workers with non-local agricultural household registration edged up to 4.9% from 4.8% in June. Across 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate rose to 5.2% from 5.0% in June. Employees at enterprises worked an average of 48.2 hours per week. In the first seven months of the year, the surveyed urban jobless rate averaged 5.2%, unchanged from the average for the first six months and the same period last year.
2026-08-17