China’s urban youth unemployment rate continued to ease last month, though fierce labour market competition remains a challenge for many jobseekers.
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The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, slightly decreased to 17.3 per cent in October from 17.7 per cent in September, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
Following a record 12.2 million graduates entering the job market over the summer, the youth unemployment rate rose in August to its highest level since a 2023 revision excluded full-time students from the data.
With China’s job market remaining weak as companies cut costs and reduce staff amid an economic slowdown and trade uncertainties, some graduates have resorted to unconventional methods such as distributing résumés at trade expos. Others are turning to alternatives outside corporate employment.
The most common paths include pursuing further education to delay entering the workforce and preparing for the national civil service exam in search of greater stability.
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Nancy Lu, who completed a master’s degree at a Hong Kong university in 2024 and returned to mainland China to find a job, spent nearly a year searching for work but did not receive a single offer.
Eventually, she abandoned her hunt and is now preparing for the national civil service exam in December.