China's March Unemployment Rate High, Scholar: Overall Data Rising, Indicating Severe Employment Situation
China's youth unemployment rate hit a four-month high of 16.9% in March, with the overall unemployment rate also on the rise. Scholars question the reliability of China's unemployment statistics but point to economic sluggishness and corporate 'involution' as causes of widespread unemployment.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 21:16
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 21st) China's National Bureau of Statistics announced today that the youth unemployment rate in March was 16.9%, a new high in four months. Scholar Wang Guochen pointed out that China's unemployment rate has always been unreliable, but observing the trend, China's overall unemployment rate has been rising recently, indicating a worsening comprehensive unemployment problem.
Data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics on the 21st showed that the unemployment rate for the 16-24 age group in urban areas nationwide, excluding students, was 16.9% in March, a new high in four months; China's national urban surveyed unemployment rate in March was 5.4%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from February, also the highest since March 2025.
Wang Guochen, associate research fellow at the First Research Institute of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, told the Central News Agency that China's overall unemployment rate is on the rise. For example, the national urban surveyed unemployment rate is 5.4%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from the end of last year; the surveyed unemployment rate in 31 major cities also rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.3%, so the rise in the youth unemployment rate is "not surprising."
He pointed out that the reason for the overall rise in unemployment is nothing more than a sluggish overall economy. China's fixed asset investment in the first quarter of this year increased by 1.7% year-on-year, compared with 4.2% in the same period last year, indicating that investment is shrinking, which in turn affects employment opportunities. The sluggish investment coupled with corporate "involution" means that fewer employees are needed overall, "so it is a comprehensive unemployment problem, not just for youth."
Regarding the credibility of China's youth unemployment rate statistics, Wang Guochen pointed out that "China's unemployment rate has always been the most unreliable" because it only counts cities, not rural areas, and the retirement age is 55, so those over 55 are not considered unemployed.
Wang Guochen emphasized that they do not look at the absolute value of China's unemployment rate, but rather infer the severity of the entire problem from the trend. Although China's unemployment rate has adjusted its statistical methodology, the methodology has not changed in the past few months, yet the data has consistently hovered in double digits and now shows an upward trend. "If viewed according to the same statistical methodology, then the problem is worsening."
China's National Bureau of Statistics adjusted its age-group unemployment rate statistics starting from December 2023, releasing unemployment rates for the 16-24, 25-29, and 30-59 age groups, excluding students.
Wang Guochen also pointed out that China's unemployment rate is "generally underestimated, and the youth unemployment rate is even more underestimated." For example, students are not included in the calculation. He revealed that although not publicly confirmed, many sources indicate that some schools do not issue graduation certificates until students find jobs, and if they cannot find jobs for a long time, they arrange internships. "Internships are not considered unemployment," or through delaying graduation, taking postgraduate exams, etc., young people delay their graduation.
Wang Guochen further mentioned that many young people are actually engaged in "flexible employment," such as doing odd jobs, becoming internet celebrities, or delivering food. China's definition of unemployment in the gig economy is more lenient than globally, "as long as you work for 1 hour, you are not considered unemployed," which further pushes down the unemployment rate.
Wang Guochen stated that there is another type of "voluntary unemployment," especially since the salaries of many young people in China are currently lower than the pensions of their elders within the "system" at home. "They just need to be full-time children at home; they earn more from their elders' pensions than by going out to work." (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150421
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(Central News Agency reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 21st) China's National Bureau of Statistics announced today that the youth unemployment rate in March was 16.9%, a new high in four months. Scholar Wang Guochen pointed out that China's unemployment rate has always been unreliable, but observing the trend, China's overall unemployment rate has been rising recently, indicating a worsening comprehensive unemployment problem.
Data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics on the 21st showed that the unemployment rate for the 16-24 age group in urban areas nationwide, excluding students, was 16.9% in March, a new high in four months; China's national urban surveyed unemployment rate in March was 5.4%, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from February, also the highest since March 2025.
Wang Guochen, associate research fellow at the First Research Institute of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, told the Central News Agency that China's overall unemployment rate is on the rise. For example, the national urban surveyed unemployment rate is 5.4%, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from the end of last year; the surveyed unemployment rate in 31 major cities also rose by 0.2 percentage points to 5.3%, so the rise in the youth unemployment rate is "not surprising."
He pointed out that the reason for the overall rise in unemployment is nothing more than a sluggish overall economy. China's fixed asset investment in the first quarter of this year increased by 1.7% year-on-year, compared with 4.2% in the same period last year, indicating that investment is shrinking, which in turn affects employment opportunities. The sluggish investment coupled with corporate "involution" means that fewer employees are needed overall, "so it is a comprehensive unemployment problem, not just for youth."
Regarding the credibility of China's youth unemployment rate statistics, Wang Guochen pointed out that "China's unemployment rate has always been the most unreliable" because it only counts cities, not rural areas, and the retirement age is 55, so those over 55 are not considered unemployed.
Wang Guochen emphasized that they do not look at the absolute value of China's unemployment rate, but rather infer the severity of the entire problem from the trend. Although China's unemployment rate has adjusted its statistical methodology, the methodology has not changed in the past few months, yet the data has consistently hovered in double digits and now shows an upward trend. "If viewed according to the same statistical methodology, then the problem is worsening."
China's National Bureau of Statistics adjusted its age-group unemployment rate statistics starting from December 2023, releasing unemployment rates for the 16-24, 25-29, and 30-59 age groups, excluding students.
Wang Guochen also pointed out that China's unemployment rate is "generally underestimated, and the youth unemployment rate is even more underestimated." For example, students are not included in the calculation. He revealed that although not publicly confirmed, many sources indicate that some schools do not issue graduation certificates until students find jobs, and if they cannot find jobs for a long time, they arrange internships. "Internships are not considered unemployment," or through delaying graduation, taking postgraduate exams, etc., young people delay their graduation.
Wang Guochen further mentioned that many young people are actually engaged in "flexible employment," such as doing odd jobs, becoming internet celebrities, or delivering food. China's definition of unemployment in the gig economy is more lenient than globally, "as long as you work for 1 hour, you are not considered unemployed," which further pushes down the unemployment rate.
Wang Guochen stated that there is another type of "voluntary unemployment," especially since the salaries of many young people in China are currently lower than the pensions of their elders within the "system" at home. "They just need to be full-time children at home; they earn more from their elders' pensions than by going out to work." (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150421
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.