Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in China
China: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 737,575 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in China, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in China stood at 737,575.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment (ilo modelled estimates) in China peaked at 754,056 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 641,896, in 1991.
That places China 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 641,896 | — |
| 1992 | 647,800 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 650,880 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 654,593 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 659,359 | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 664,428 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 670,277 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 676,340 | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 681,689 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 687,555 | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 692,448 | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 698,674 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 705,324 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 714,794 | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 723,847 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 732,107 | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 737,554 | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 739,528 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 741,916 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 746,470 | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 751,268 | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 751,759 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 752,004 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 752,969 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 753,541 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 754,056 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 752,942 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 751,997 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 748,845 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 730,520 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 753,076 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | 738,500 | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 744,649 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 738,287 | -0.9% |
| 2025 | 737,575 | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 660,807 | 641,896 | 681,689 | 9 |
| 2000s | 717,375 | 687,555 | 741,916 | 10 |
| 2010s | 751,585 | 746,470 | 754,056 | 10 |
| 2020s | 740,434 | 730,520 | 753,076 | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
More work & labour data for China
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.65 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.74 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.57 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.11 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.0615 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1.12 million 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 275,362 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 319,567 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 326,230 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 645,797 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment (ilo modelled estimates) in China?
- Employment (ilo modelled estimates) in China was 737,575 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 754,056 in 2016.
- What is the lowest employment (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 641,896 in 1991.
- How does China rank for employment (ilo modelled estimates)?
- China ranks 1st out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by status in employment are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Classification of Status in Employment (ICSE-93). Data may have been regrouped from the national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ICSE. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.