Analysis: China's Flexible Employment Exceeds 300 Million, Becomes Key Pillar of Labor Market
China's flexible employment population has exceeded 300 million, becoming a 'key pillar' of the labor market. It is estimated at 280 million in 2025 and projected to reach 320 million in 2026. The increase is driven by economic slowdown and reduced stable job opportunities, highlighting the need for social security.
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- 📰 Published: June 11, 2026 at 13:26
- 🔍 Collected: June 11, 2026 at 13:46 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 11, 2026 at 13:47 (1 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 11th) The news that 'China's flexible employment population has exceeded 300 million' has recently attracted attention. Analysis suggests that with changing development trends and economic environments, the number of flexible workers is increasing, making them a 'key pillar' of China's labor market.
According to a report by Hong Kong 01, the figure of over 300 million flexible workers comes from the '2025 China Blue-Collar Employment Research Report' recently released by the China New Employment Forms Research Center. After the figure was published, some questioned the data source, while others worried that the surge in flexible employment indicates an economic downturn and difficulty finding jobs.
The report is based on 28,450 valid samples, researching and estimating the blue-collar job market from 2024 to 2025. It covers industries such as ride-hailing, express delivery, domestic services, online streamers, truck drivers, manufacturing, construction, and security.
According to the report, the number of flexible workers in China is 280 million in 2025 and is expected to reach 320 million in 2026, officially transitioning from a 'supplementary form' to a 'key pillar' of the job market.
The report states that currently, the figure of 320 million flexible workers is an estimate, not a strict census of the employed population. However, it largely illustrates the changes in China's job market, representing a major structural shift in the labor market, with the economic environment and development trends differing from the past.
The continuous rapid increase in flexible workers indicates that China's economy and people's mindsets are changing. Among the vast number of flexible workers, some have chosen this path voluntarily, but many have been forced into it.
In September 2025, the China New Employment Forms Research Center's report 'Employment Resilience in Urban Mobility: Employment Landscape and Career Performance of Ride-Hailing Drivers (2025)' showed that in the survey sample, 62.8% of drivers were the sole employed person in their household, 77% of drivers entered the ride-hailing industry after losing their jobs, and over half of the drivers were the sole or main income source for their families.
The report emphasizes that the continuous increase in flexible workers shows that China's labor market is different from the past. However, many of these workers, amidst China's economic transformation and the shift between old and new growth drivers, have been forced into flexible employment due to slowing economic growth and reduced stable job opportunities. This type of employment lacks social security, has limited development potential, and offers unstable income.
In particular, the express delivery, food delivery, and ride-hailing industries, which accommodate a large number of flexible workers, are facing saturation risks and may be impacted by artificial intelligence (AI) in the future. Authorities need to take preventive measures to provide necessary social security for this vast group of flexible workers and create new job opportunities. (Editor: Zhou Huiying / Qiu Guoqiang) 1150611
According to a report by Hong Kong 01, the figure of over 300 million flexible workers comes from the '2025 China Blue-Collar Employment Research Report' recently released by the China New Employment Forms Research Center. After the figure was published, some questioned the data source, while others worried that the surge in flexible employment indicates an economic downturn and difficulty finding jobs.
The report is based on 28,450 valid samples, researching and estimating the blue-collar job market from 2024 to 2025. It covers industries such as ride-hailing, express delivery, domestic services, online streamers, truck drivers, manufacturing, construction, and security.
According to the report, the number of flexible workers in China is 280 million in 2025 and is expected to reach 320 million in 2026, officially transitioning from a 'supplementary form' to a 'key pillar' of the job market.
The report states that currently, the figure of 320 million flexible workers is an estimate, not a strict census of the employed population. However, it largely illustrates the changes in China's job market, representing a major structural shift in the labor market, with the economic environment and development trends differing from the past.
The continuous rapid increase in flexible workers indicates that China's economy and people's mindsets are changing. Among the vast number of flexible workers, some have chosen this path voluntarily, but many have been forced into it.
In September 2025, the China New Employment Forms Research Center's report 'Employment Resilience in Urban Mobility: Employment Landscape and Career Performance of Ride-Hailing Drivers (2025)' showed that in the survey sample, 62.8% of drivers were the sole employed person in their household, 77% of drivers entered the ride-hailing industry after losing their jobs, and over half of the drivers were the sole or main income source for their families.
The report emphasizes that the continuous increase in flexible workers shows that China's labor market is different from the past. However, many of these workers, amidst China's economic transformation and the shift between old and new growth drivers, have been forced into flexible employment due to slowing economic growth and reduced stable job opportunities. This type of employment lacks social security, has limited development potential, and offers unstable income.
In particular, the express delivery, food delivery, and ride-hailing industries, which accommodate a large number of flexible workers, are facing saturation risks and may be impacted by artificial intelligence (AI) in the future. Authorities need to take preventive measures to provide necessary social security for this vast group of flexible workers and create new job opportunities. (Editor: Zhou Huiying / Qiu Guoqiang) 1150611
FAQ
What is the current number of flexible workers in China?
According to a 2025 report, there are 280 million flexible workers in China, projected to reach 320 million by 2026.
What is the main reason for the increase in flexible workers?
The main reason is that many people are forced into flexible employment due to slowing economic growth and reduced stable job opportunities.
Who published this report?
The report is based on the '2025 China Blue-Collar Employment Research Report' published by the China New Employment Forms Research Center.