China adjusts surveyed youth unemployment statistics for greater accuracy

(ECNS) -- China has adjusted surveyed unemployment statistics by age group to reflect greater accuracy among young people, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Kang Yi, head of the NBS said on Wednesday during a press conference that students in the 16-24 age group have been excluded in the survey and a group aged from 25-29 deducting students has been created.

He explained that in 2023, the number of students aged 16-24 reached nearly 62 million, accounting for over 60 percent. Non-school students accounted for more than 30 percent, or about 34 million people. The main task of students in China is to study rather than take part-time jobs. If they are included, the statistics could not accurately reflect the China's unemployment situation.

In China, most young people at the age of 24 have just graduated from higher education institutions and are still in the process of looking for jobs. By the age of 29, the majority of students tend to maintain a stable job. The unemployment rate for the age group of 25-29 is added to the statistics accordingly.

The NBS will release the unemployment rate among in 16-24, 25-29 and 30-59 age groups of the workforce excluding students on a monthly basis, he added.