China's job market stable in first three quarters of this year

China's employment has remained stable in the first three quarters of the year thanks to robust economic growth and strong policy support from the government, said an official from the National Bureau of Statistics.

According to an analysis report by the NBS on Monday, the average surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas in the first three quarters of this year roughly corresponded with the same period in 2024.

The surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas averaged about 5.2 percent in the first nine months. The number stayed around 5.3 percent in the first quarter, 5 percent in the second quarter and 5.2 percent in the third quarter.

Wang Pingping, director of the NBS's Department of Population and Employment Statistics, said that the urban unemployment rate saw a seasonal increase in July and August due to the graduation season and outdoor job reduction during the scorching summer time, while the number started to fall in September after most college graduates landed jobs.

She said though the current job market remains stable, it's necessary to take note of the pressures some industries, job seekers or employees may face due to external uncertainties and structural imbalance of the employment, which requires stronger policy support from the government.