China’s urban youth unemployment rate edged lower last month but remained at a concerning level amid ongoing struggles for many young people to find work in a challenging and crowded job market, reports the South China Morning Post. The jobless rate for the 16-to-24 age group, excluding students, dipped to 17.7% in September from 18.9% in August, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.
The August figure had hit the highest level since the data set was adjusted in 2023, following a record graduation season in which 12.2 million university students entered an already shaky labour market.
For many, job opportunities matching their skills and expectations have remained elusive in a market strained by deflationary pressures and external uncertainties.