China Jobless Rate Hits 5-Month High

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.

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.