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. source: National Bureau of Statistics of China

Unemployment Rate in China increased to 5.20 percent in July from 5 percent in June of 2026. Unemployment Rate in China averaged 4.81 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 August of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in China increased to 5.20 percent in July from 5 percent in June 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
2026-07-15 02:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 5% 5.1% 5.1% 5.10%
2026-08-17 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 5.2% 5% 5.1% 5.1%
2026-09-15 02:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 5.2%



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Youth Unemployment Rate 17.90 14.90 percent Jul 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 48.20 48.20 Hours Jul 2026
Population 1405.00 1408.00 Million Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.20 5.00 percent Jul 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 5.00 6.20 3.90 2002 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
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
China Jobless Rate Hits One-Year Low
China's surveyed urban unemployment rate edged down to 5.0% in June 2026, in line with market expectations and down from 5.1% in the prior month. It marked the lowest reading since June 2025. Among the locally registered labor force, the unemployment rate fell to 5.0% from 5.2% in May, while the rate for the migrant labor force was unchanged at 4.9%. Within the migrant workforce, those holding agricultural household registration recorded an unemployment rate that ticked down to 4.8% from 4.9%. Across 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate also eased slightly to 5.0% in June from 5.1% in the prior month. Meanwhile, enterprise employees nationwide worked an average of 48.2 hours per week. In the second quarter of the year, the national average surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2%, while the number of rural migrant workers reached 192.27 million.
2026-07-15
China Jobless Rate Hits 5-Month Low
China's surveyed urban unemployment rate edged lower to 5.1% in May 2026, compared with both market expectations and the previous month's 5.2%. It marked the lowest reading since December 2025. Among the locally registered labor force, the unemployment rate edged down to 5.2% from 5.3% in April, while the rate for the migrant labor force slipped to 4.9% from 5%. Within the migrant workforce, those holding agricultural household registration recorded an unemployment rate that edged lower to 4.9% from 5%. Across 31 major cities, the surveyed urban unemployment rate also eased to 5.1% in May 2026 from 5.2% in the previous month. Meanwhile, enterprise employees nationwide worked an average of 48.2 hours per week. For the January–May period, the average surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5.2%.
2026-06-16