China Urban Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.2% in September 2026
China's urban unemployment rate decreased to 5.2% in September 2026, coming in below market forecasts and down from the five-month high of 5.3% recorded in August. Joblessness among locally registered urban residents dropped from 5.3% to 5.2%, while the unemployment rate for migrant workers dipped to 5.1% from 5.2%.
The decline in unemployment extended across 31 of China's largest cities, where the surveyed jobless rate also retreated to 5.2% from 5.3% the previous month. Among agricultural migrant workers, unemployment remained unchanged at 5.0%. Across the first nine months of the year, the nationwide urban jobless rate averaged 5.2%.
Labor statistics for the third quarter show that the total workforce of rural migrant workers expanded by 0.4% year-over-year to 192.7 million people. Meanwhile, employees at Chinese enterprises logged an average workweek of 48.3 hours. Market observers will monitor whether this labor market stabilization carries into the final quarter of the year.
Key points
- China's surveyed urban unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in September 2026, beating the expected 5.3%.
- The jobless rate in 31 major Chinese cities declined to 5.2% from 5.3% in August.
- Unemployment among migrant workers eased to 5.1%, while agricultural migrant worker unemployment held steady at 5.0%.
- The number of rural migrant workers reached 192.7 million at the end of the third quarter, up 0.4% from a year earlier.
- Employees at enterprises worked an average of 48.3 hours per week in September.
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How we writeDisclaimerQuestions and answers
What was China's urban unemployment rate in September 2026?
China's surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.2% in September 2026, declining from 5.3% in August.
How many rural migrant workers were there in China by the end of Q3 2026?
By the end of the third quarter of 2026, the number of rural migrant workers in China reached 192.7 million, representing a 0.4% increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
What was the average work week for enterprise employees in China in September 2026?
Employees at Chinese enterprises worked an average of 48.3 hours per week in September 2026.