China’s youth-unemployment picture still blurry, social and economic risks remain even as jobless rate returns
- China’s jobless rate for the 16 to 24 age group returned for December, with the adjusted figure excluding students standing at 14.9 per cent
- Beijing says the figure ‘more accurately’ reflects the situation, but analysts say it is still difficult to ‘truly glean what’s happening’
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China resumed the release of its youth jobless rate on Wednesday, having previously suspended it for almost six months, although the adjustment still might not provide the full picture of the unemployment landscape, analysts said.
The jobless rate for 16 to 24 age group stood at 14.9 per cent in December, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), who said the adjusted figure does not include students.
“It will more accurately reflect the employment and unemployment status of the youth who are in need of a job after graduation, and the whole picture of employment and unemployment of the youth from their graduation to stable work,” the NBS said.
Students in China are in school to study, said NBS director Kang Yi, with finding a job not their priority.
“If school students are included in the [16-24] age group, young people looking for part-time jobs at school and young people looking for jobs after graduation will be mixed together, which will not accurately reflect the employment and unemployment situation of young people who enter society and really need to work,” Kang said.