FX.co ★ China Youth Jobless Rate Eases to 18%

China’s urban youth unemployment rate for 16–24-year-olds, excluding students, eased to 18% in September 2026, down from 18.9% in August, when it hit a 12-month high. The National Bureau of Statistics attributed the month-on-month decline to new graduates gradually finding jobs following the seasonal spike in unemployment during the July–August graduation period. The jobless rate for 25–29-year-olds in cities edged down to 7.4% from 7.5%, while the rate for those aged 30–59 held steady at 3.9%. Overall, the nationwide urban unemployment rate dipped to 5.2% from 5.3%, signaling a modest improvement in labor market conditions.