China's urban employment remains stable in first half of 2026

China has reported stable urban employment figures for the first half of 2026. Data from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security indicates that 6.95 million new urban jobs were created during this period.

The volume of new urban employment remains consistent with the same timeframe from the previous year. Officials confirmed that the average surveyed urban unemployment rate reached 5.2 percent between January and June 2026.

To support these labor market conditions, the government deployed significant financial resources. The ministry distributed 3.6 billion yuan in unemployment insurance subsidies, alongside 900 million yuan in one-off job expansion subsidies and 1.2 billion yuan allocated for skills training initiatives.

These measures serve as a direct intervention to maintain workforce stability and assist job seekers across various sectors. The data suggests a sustained focus on employment security as the country enters the second half of the year.