China Maintains Urban Unemployment Rate at 5.2 Percent

The Government of China maintained a stable urban unemployment rate of 5.2 percent during the first three quarters of 2026, matching the figures from the same period in 2025. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on October 19 indicates that the September urban unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to reach the 5.2 percent mark.

The services sector remains the primary driver of employment, accounting for 49.4 percent of the total workforce. Growth was particularly noted in the catering, entertainment, and transportation industries.

To sustain these levels, the government established a 2026 target to keep urban unemployment around 5.5 percent and create more than 12 million new urban jobs. A broader five-year plan spanning 2026 to 2030 aims to assist 25 million unemployed urban workers in finding employment. Additionally, the state is implementing strategies to adapt the labor market to artificial intelligence advances to create new roles and mitigate technological displacement.