China's Urban Unemployment Rate Remains Stable, Government Aims for Further Job Creation in 2025

China's Urban Unemployment Rate Remains Stable in January and February

China's average nationwide urban unemployment rate remained largely unchanged from the same period last year, standing at 5.3 percent in January and February, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In February, the urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, a slight increase of 0.2 percentage points from the previous month. Officials attributed this fluctuation to normal seasonal trends, as migrant workers return home for the Spring Festival and then gradually return to work afterwards. This typically leads to a temporary increase in the urban unemployment rate, which then declines as post-holiday work resumption progresses.

The 2025 government work report has set a target of keeping the urban unemployment rate around 5.5 percent and creating over 12 million new jobs. Achieving these goals will require significant efforts, according to NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui.

He highlighted the challenges of accommodating the 12.22 million college graduates entering the job market this year, ensuring stable employment for rural migrant workers, and maintaining the employment scale of people lifted out of poverty above 30 million.

Fu emphasized that China's focus on expanding domestic demand and promoting high-quality development will provide a solid foundation for job creation. The upgrading of traditional industries, growth of emerging sectors, and new business models, coupled with the effectiveness of employment-first policies and improving job market conditions, will help maintain overall employment stability.