Advertisement
China’s youth jobless rate falls slightly but remains high after record graduation season
Unemployment hits 17.7 per cent among those 16 to 24, down from 18.9 per cent in August, as graduates face competitive labour market
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
Xinyi Wuin Beijing
China’s urban youth unemployment rate edged lower last month but remained at a concerning level amid ongoing struggles for many young people to find work in a challenging and crowded job market.
The jobless rate for the 16-to-24 age group, excluding students, dipped to 17.7 per cent in September from 18.9 per cent in August, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.
The August figure had hit the highest level since the data set was adjusted in 2023, following a record graduation season in which 12.2 million university students entered an already shaky labour market.
Advertisement
For many, job opportunities matching their skills and expectations have remained elusive in a market strained by deflationary pressures and external uncertainties.
Computer science graduate Zhu Yiran shared that she had applied to more than a dozen state-owned enterprises since September to no avail.
Advertisement
“Initially, I wanted to work in the public sector, but I’m realising that it’s not easy to get in,” she said.
While she continues her job search, the fresh graduate is also preparing for China’s national civil service exam at the end of the year, though she remains pessimistic about passing.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x