China’s urban youth unemployment rate for 16–24-year-olds, excluding students, rose for the second consecutive month in August 2026, reaching 18.9%—its highest level in a year—up from 17.9% in July, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. This increase tracked a similar move in the overall urban unemployment rate, which edged up to 5.3% from 5.2%.
The rise comes as a record 12.7 million university students graduated this summer, adding unprecedented pressure to a labour market already strained by slowing economic growth and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. The unemployment rate for 25–29-year-olds, excluding students, also climbed, from 7.2% to 7.5%, while the jobless rate for those aged 30–59 held steady at 3.9%.
