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.

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.

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.