The youth unemployment rate in China reached a high of 17% in July, marking the highest level since the new system was introduced in December.

• The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China's youth unemployment rate surpassed 17% in July, marking the highest level since the new record-keeping system was introduced in December.
• That's up from 13.2% in June.
• The urban unemployment rate rose from 5% in June to 5.2% in July, according to data released on Thursday.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China's youth unemployment rate surpassed 17% in July, marking the highest level since the new record-keeping system was introduced in December.

The unemployment rate for young adults aged 16 to 24 in China, excluding those in school, increased to 17.1% in the latest data update on Monday, from 13.2% in June.

China stopped reporting the youth unemployment rate for the second half of last year while reassessing its calculation methods. The new jobless rate for young people does not include those still in school, as more people in China pursue higher education in a more competitive job market.

In June 2023, the final figure under the prior calculation method indicated that unemployment among individuals aged 16 to 24 reached a record high of 21.3%.

The urban unemployment rate increased from 5% in June to 5.2% in July, according to data released on Thursday. Liu Aihua, a spokesperson for the statistics bureau, explained that the rise in the urban jobless rate was due to graduation season, but also acknowledged the overall pressure on employment, including structural challenges that make it difficult for businesses to find suitable workers.